Denmark secretly airlifts 200 Iraqi families out of Iraq

Above: A U.S. soldier pulls security as an Iraqi man speaks to an interpreter in Bagubah during 'Operation Arrowhead Ripper' in June.

Denmark said on Friday it secretly airlifted out of Iraq about 200 translators and other Iraqi employees of its troops in Iraq and their relatives this week and most were expected to seek asylum in the Nordic nation.

"Out of concern for the interpreters and their families' security as well as the security of the Danish base in Iraq, the Defence Ministry has chosen to inform the public after the interpreters and others had left Iraq," the Denmark Defence Ministry said in a statement.

It said the airlift involved "about 200" people. A ministry spokesman reached by telephone could not provide an exact number but said most of the Iraqis brought to Denmark were translators and their families.

Read the rest at the NY Times