Rights campaigner told to leave Iraq

A human rights campaigner has been thrown out of Baghdad by the Iraqi authorities.

Jo Wilding, from Norton in Worcestershire, and a friend were told to leave Iraq on Monday so they fled to the relative safety of Jordan.

The part-time student, who is studying at the University of the West of England in Bristol, managed to get the last flight of the day from Jordan, which is currently served by only one airline.

Miss Wilding arrived in Baghdad in February as part of a human rights campaign to record civilian deaths and injuries during the military bombing campaign.

Her mother, Anne, who lives in Norton, has had little contact with her since then, except by sporadic email.

Writing in a journal for an independent website before leaving Iraq, Ms Wilding said: "I'm being expelled from Iraq.

"Coming from the foreign ministry, there's not really any arguing with that. There's no shame in it either, being booted out by this government, but it hurts, it aches.

"I can't say goodbye to anyone because there are no phones and we can't go anywhere without a minder and permission from the foreign ministry."

Miss Wilding is due to arrive back in the UK on Wednesday.