June 2, 2003	Monday	Rabi-us-Sani 1, 1424

PARIS, June 1: French MPs have introduced an amendment into the new law on asylum which institutes the concept of a list of “sure” countries, which would inform French immigration officials which countries are more likely to produce authentic refugees.

At present, the government office that decides who is to be accorded refugee status, and who is not, bases its decisions on a case-by-case basis.

The amendment would prevent citizens from some countries being accorded automatic refugee status in France.

FREE MEDICALS: Meanwhile, according to a circular that is soon to be published, free medical assistance will be henceforth be more difficult to obtain for illegal immigrants and candidates applying for the status of political refugee, the Libera-tion daily newspaper reported here.