By Wojciech Moskwa OSLO, July 18 (Reuters) - Record numbers of asylum seekers, led by Iraqi nationals seeking to escape their violence-ridden homeland, pose a growing challenge for Norway, the country's immigration directorate (UDI) said on Friday. This year some 15,000 asylum seekers are expected to apply for permits to live and work in Norway, up from 6,500 in 2007 -- one of the fastest growth rates in Europe, according to UDI. Over the first six months of 2008, some 5,400 people applied for asylum, more than double last year's figure. About 60 percent of properly filed applications are rejected, UDI said. "There is a perception among asylum seekers and 'smugglers' that Norway is a more attractive destination than many other European countries," UDI's deputy director general Frode Forfang told Reuters. "We are coping, but...
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