UN Secretary-General Urges Iraq To Start Camp Ashraf Relocation

Iranian families protest outside Camp Ashraf in Diyala province, northeast of Baghdad, in December.

UNITED NATIONS -- UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has urged Iraqi authorities to begin the relocation process of members of the Iranian opposition Mujahedin-e Khalq Organization (MKO) from Camp Ashraf.

The residents of Camp Ashraf are set to be moved to a new location within the country called Camp Liberty, as part of a process that aims to see them resettled outside of Iraq.

On January 31, the UN's refugee agency confirmed that Camp Liberty's infrastructure and facilities were in accordance with international humanitarian standards.

At Ban's request, the Iraqi government earlier extended its deadline to close Camp Ashraf from December 31, 2011, to April 30 of this year.

Ban again called on UN member states to accept eligible Camp Ashraf residents who wish to resettle in third countries.

Camp Ashraf has been home to MKO members since the 1980s.

The group is designated a terrorist organization by Iran and the United States.