Rwandan and British ministers defend asylum seeker plans after UN criticism

Vincent Biruta and Priti Patel defended the plans (Martial Trezzini/Keystone via AP)

British and Rwandan ministers have hit back at two United Nations agencies which condemned the controversial plan to send some asylum seekers from Britain to the African country.

In an interview with the Associated Press before meeting officials from the UN human rights and refugee agencies, Rwandan foreign minister Vincent Biruta acknowledged it was “fine that they be concerned”, adding that the discussion was aimed “to bring them on board” to work with the two countries.