MP criticises political asylum for hotel bomber

A LABOUR MP is to complain to Michael Howard, the Home Secretary, after a Tunisian convicted of bomb attacks that injured five British tourists was granted political asylum in the United Kingdom.

George Foulkes, MP for Carrick, Cumnock and Doon Valley, is to raise the case of Rashid Ghannouchi, 50, an Islamic fundamentalist leader found guilty of masterminding bomb attacks at hotels in Tunisia. One of Mr Foulkes' constituents, Helen Strochi, 27, lost a foot in one incident. According to a report in yesterday's Sunday Telegraph, he was given a presidential pardon for the attacks carried out in the summer of 1987. But he has now allegedly been granted political asylum with exceptional leave to remain in Britain.

Mr Foulkes said: 'I'm surprised this chap has been granted political asylum given the circumstances of the case.'

The Home Office said it was unable to comment on individual cases of asylum.