Police have appealed for help to find a number of men who beat and stabbed an asylum seeker to death in a "vicious" assault following an argument outside a pub.

Fetah Marku, a Kosovo Albanian, was chased and killed by the group in Edgware, north London, last year, as he celebrated his 24th birthday.

Fetah came to this country seeking safety, and tragically lost his life at the hands of those he looked to for sanctuary

Martin Lee, Metropolitan Police

Mr Marku's body was found to have 80 separate injuries, including 29 stab wounds, when he died. The cause of death was found to be massive internal bleeding.

One man, Richard Ellis, 33, of Watford Road in Harrow, was jailed for life for his murder last week.

But police say there were "a number of others" involved in the attack, who have not been caught.

Mr Marku's 18-year-old brother Isa told a news conference Fetah had been a "very friendly" person who did not deserve such an attack.

'Horrendous assault'

Speaking through an interpreter, Isa said: "He would talk to people, he was a very hard-working person, always smiling. He liked to be in the company of others - he was very friendly."

The news conference came during Refugee Week, in which the UK press has been criticised for stirring up suspicion and ill-feeling against asylum seekers.

Mr Marku and Isa came to the UK seeking political asylum in September 2000.

Richard Ellis was jailed for life for murder

The attack happened after Mr Marku went out with three friends to the Oscar Wilde pub in Edgware High Street on 24 March 2001.

Detective Chief Inspector Martin Lee, who is leading the investigation, said Mr Marku became involved in an argument outside the pub.

He was chased by the men into a car park where he was stabbed and beaten.

A short time later the group returned to the scene and continued the "sustained" attack. Mr Marku died in hospital several hours later.

'Risk'

Mr Lee said he was keeping an "open mind" on whether the attack was racially motivated, and asked anyone with information to come forward.

He said up to 200 people had been in the pub that night and must have known who was involved in the "particularly vicious, horrendous assault".

Witness appeal

Hundreds of people may know who was involved There is a �7,500 reward for information Anyone with information can call Crimestoppers: 0800 555 111

"The people involved in the assault are vicious and violent - and yet they are still walking the streets," he said.

"They must be considered a risk to society as a whole."

Police are offering a �7,500 reward for any information which leads to conviction.

Isa said that after what had happened to his brother, he no longer felt completely safe in Britain.

"I wouldn't feel 100% safe anywhere - not only in this country. I feel alone."