Afghan Interpreters Who Worked For Britain Launch Legal Case

Former British servicemen arrive with an interpreter named Mohammed (2nd left) at the Foreign and Commonwealth Office in London on May 3 to deliver a petition calling for asylum for Afghan interpreters who served the British Army.

Three Afghans who worked as interpreters for British troops in Afghanistan have launched a legal bid in London to overturn a government decision not to give them the same benefits Britain gave to Iraqi interpreters.

Lawyers for the three men said on May 3 that the men -- who have not been identified because of security concerns -- and their relatives in Afghanistan had received death threats.

The British government has ruled it will consider the cases of the 500 Afghan interpreters who worked for British forces on a case-by-case basis.

Iraqi interpreters were given the choice of financial compensation or permission to enter the United Kingdom outside normal immigration procedures.

U.K. Prime Minister David Cameron said this week that those who worked for British forces should stay in Afghanistan and help rebuild their country.

Based on reporting by AP, AFP, and Reuters