THE Immigration Department has wound up a special war crimes taskforce amid renewed controversy over allegations that suspected war criminals are living freely in Australia.

The taskforce, set up at the end of 2005 to investigate reports that war criminals living here had applied for protection visas, completed its work in six months after deciding most of the cases it examined were of no further interest.

The department is still reviewing 15 cases remaining from 82 cases examined by the taskforce but a departmental spokesman said this review did not necessarily relate to war crimes.

Australia kills off war crimes unit - National - theage.com.au