Iraq is still beset by security problems with suicide bombings occurring regularly [EPA]

Britain's border agency said that out of 39 refugees who were on the aircraft, 10 had got off in the Iraqi capital, but the rest had been flown back after no provision had been made to transport them from Baghdad to Basra.

The International Federation of Iraqi Refugees (Ifir) had raised concerns over the welfare of the asylum-seekers once they arrived in Iraq, which has seen a continuation of deadly suicide bombings in recent months.

The group said people on the original flight had been told it was going to Baghdad, making it the first deportation flight into south or central Iraq from the UK.

Previously, Iraqi deportees from Britain have been flown into the Kurdish region of northern Iraq, which has not seen the level of violence experienced in other parts of the country.

'Forcibly removed'

The Ifir said some of the asylum-seekers who were left in Iraq had been forcibly removed from the aeroplane.

"They forced 10 of us to get off in Baghdad. They said the British embassy would help us, but they just gave us $100 and left us.

"I'm too scared to go to where I used to live. Everything they told us is a lie."

Ifir said those returned to the UK were now back in Brook House detention centre in London.

Further flights

In a statement on Friday, Lin Homer, the chief executive of the UK border agency, said: "We are establishing a new route to southern Iraq and have successfully returned 10 Iraqis to the Baghdad area. This is an important first step for us.

"We are working closely with the Iraq government to iron out the issues which lead to some of the returnees being sent back, and expect to carry out another flight in the future.

"Having an enforced route for returns is an important part of our overall approach; however, the government prefers the majority of returnees to leave voluntarily.

"In the past three years, more than 2,500 people have chosen to return to Iraq under the Assisted Voluntary Return Programme and we expect that to continue."

According to Britain's interior ministry, 632 people were deported to northern Iraq between 2005 and 2008.

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