Copenhagen  - Danish authorities early Wednesday repatriated 12 Iraqi men whose applications for asylum have been rejected.

Some 200 protesters tried overnight to block the entrance to a prison in northern Zealand where the men were being held before they were taken to an airport in Roskilde, near Copenhagen.

Their lawyer said the plane was bound for Baghdad.

In May, Denmark and Iraq signed an agreement over the repatriation of some 240 Iraqis. Criticism has been voiced against the deal as some of the failed asylum seekers have lived for years in Denmark.

Human rights groups, including Amnesty International, have expressed concern over the move.

So far 47 Iraqis have been repatriated while 129 have left for other countries or gone into hiding, the Danish news agency Ritzau reported.

The voluntary group Church Asylum that opposes the repatriations said it planned public meetings in several cities.

In early September, 22 failed asylum seekers were flown back to Iraq.(dpa)