Britons lose Iraq appeal

LONDON (Reuter) - An Iraqi court has rejected an appeal to overturn the sentences of two Britons jailed in Baghdad, the Foreign Office said yesterday. A spokesman said news of the 10 October decision was received on Thursday from the Russian embassy in Baghdad via Moscow. Russian diplomats have been acting on Britain's behalf in the two men's cases.

A second appeal to Iraq's highest court had been immediately launched, the spokesman said. The two are Michael Wainwright, serving 10 years after cycling across the Iraqi border from Turkey in May, and Paul Ride, who is serving seven years for allegedly entering Iraq illegally from Kuwait.