24/06/2003 (Agence Europe) - Several MEPs have signed a “liberty passport” for Ilyas Akhmadov, Chechen foreign minister sponsored by MEP Olivier Dupuis. Liberty passports are issued by MEPs to figures whose life and liberty are jeopardised by their human rights activities, explains a press release, adding that Akhmadov ahs been residing without a passport or official residential status in the United States for more than a year. On 25 June 2003 a US court will decide whether to grant him official residence. The MEPs present included Michel Rocard, Graham Watson, Daniel Cohn-Bendit, Francis Wurtz, Bernd Posselt, Jas Gawronski, Fodé Sylla, Harlem Désir, Glyn Ford and Gianfranco Dell'Alba.