A possible 500 Liberian refugees, currently residing in Sierra Leone, could receive sanctuary in Britain under a new legal route, the Home Office has confirmed.

Normal asylum rules dictate that refugees must seek asylum in the country they first reach after escaping from tyranny.

But the Home Office will observe the protocol of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR).

It accepted the danger that the displaced refugees could fall into the hands of illegal people traffickers.

Other Liberia refugees from elsewhere in the world could follow.

The refugees fled to Sierra Leone after fighting broke out in Liberia 13 years ago.

The Government’s immigration spokeswoman Beverley Hughes writing in the Guardian said: “This is the first time the UK has been involved in the UNHCR resettlement programme – an internationally recognised route to help refugees reach protection without being driven into the hands of the people traffickers.

“It is in this context that we have begun interviews to select the first refugees to bring to the UK later this year.”

Separately, a seven member team of US Marines landed in Liberia’s capital Monrovia on Wednesday.

It is thought Liberian leader Charles Taylor will seek exile in Nigeria from August 16 or 17.

Rebels charge him with sweeping the country into civil war and poverty over the last 14 years.