The Guardian (U.K.) reports that the European Union is facing emergency measures to contend with an anticipated influx of tens of thousands of Iraqi refugees.  Franco Frattini, the EU justice and home affairs commissioner, told the EU panel that he would present proposals for the 27 countries to deal with a surge in claims for asylum from Iraqis within the next few weeks.  

The European commission said it would give an extra 10 million euros for the "most vulnerable" victims of the crisis in Iraq – mainly for healthcare and education but also food and essential household items.  Around 2 million Iraqis have left their country since the US-led war on Saddam Hussein almost four years ago.  

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A Maori activist has been convicted of selling worthless "Government Aotearoa" work permits to two Thai nationals.  The New Zealand Herald says that Auckland District Court Judge Lindsay Moore found 53-year-old immigration consultant John Hikuwai guilty of charging Thaen Charoephan and Nongnuch Ruengsakul $500 each for the false permits.  

Hikuwai was also found guilty of breeching immigration legislation by falsely declaring that the applicants understood the contents of a claim for refugee status before signing the documents.  

"There can be no question but that the basis for each claim did not come from the respective applicants, but was a dishonest and indeed abusive exercise dreamed up by Mr. Hikuwai and his associates who used it over and over again," Judge Moore said.

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