EU to send mission to Morocco

2005-10-04 22:25

Brussels - The European Union said on Tuesday that it would send a mission to Morocco and the Spanish enclaves to assess the problems of illegal immigration into the EU and held out hope of financial assistance to Rabat to control the problem.

Hundreds of Africans in recent weeks had ripped through and scaled high-security fences at the borders between Morocco and the two Spanish enclaves of Ceuta and Melila.

European Union justice commissioner Franco Frattini said he was seeking to release up to $48m to help Morocco secure its borders. The technical mission to the area would show the EU's commitment to make sure Rabat could deal with the problem.

Moroccan authorities said they arrested 194 illegal immigrants after the latest assault on Monday on the enclave of Melilla, where hundreds of Africans ripped through a high-security fence, struggling over razor wire and fighting with police.

Morocco said its security forces, about 1 500 officers backed by helicopters, had arrested nearly 1 000 illegal immigrants in the area around the enclave since the middle of last week.

- AP