HUMAN shield Antoinette McCormick was today heading for Jordan after being turned back from Syria.

The 38-year-old woman set off for the Syrian capital Damascus on Wednesday after being told she could no longer remain in Baghdad on her tourist visa.

She had previously been acting as a shield at a Baghdad power plant in a bid to deter Allied bombing.

Her worried York parents, John and Mairi, said today that Antoinette had called them last night to say she had been refused entry to Syria and intended returning to Baghdad for several days.

But she then emailed them later in the evening to say she would be leaving Baghdad early today in a hired car with a Government minder, to travel to the Jordanian capital, Amman.

"She says the road is supposed to be clear," said Mrs McCormick.

"If it's dangerous, they will return to Baghdad. We are very alarmed."

Updated: 11:06 Friday, March 28, 2003