The UK Border Agency has pledged a deadline of this summer to conclude the asylum case of a man in Coventry which has been going on for 11 years.

BBC: Said Gholampour

Ecuador has been at the centre of another asylum case since WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange sought refuge in its London embassy in June.

BBC: Ecuador journalist Emilio Palacio granted asylum in the US

The full details of Mr Lamhoud's case are for the Greek asylum system to deal with, not me.

BBC: Greece asylum: Journey through a broken system

But the government says claims for asylum will be considered on merit on a case-by-case basis.

BBC: Is the UK abandoning its Afghan interpreters?

Earlier this month, a Canadian court ordered the country's refugee board to re-examine the case of another deserter, Joshua Key, whose application for asylum in Canada had been rejected.

BBC: Canada deports US army deserter

Spokeswoman Victoria Nuland refused to give any details of the case, nor would she comment on whether the pair had been granted political asylum.

BBC: Chinese activist Lu Haitao in US

Test case appeals over the refusals, which were due to be heard by the Asylum and Immigration Tribunal (AIT) on 21 July, will be delayed pending the outcome.

BBC: Gurkhas win High Court hearing

The figures show that as of 30 September, some 1, 455 asylum seekers judged to have no case were awaiting deportation in detention centres.

BBC: NEWS | UK | Failed asylum removals decrease

Jonathan Edwards, MP for Carmarthen East and Dinefwr, has backed the teenager's bid to stay in the UK, describing it as a "clear moral case to support Ahmer's application for asylum".

BBC: Carmarthen man facing deportation in fresh legal bid

At the end of February German immigration authorities heard Mr Shepherd's case, and are currently examining his eligibility for asylum.

BBC: Asylum dilemma for US deserter