Spain plans 6m anti-alien fence

2005-09-09 16:18

Madrid - Spain will double the height of a fence surrounding the tiny Spanish enclave of Melilla in North Africa in an effort to make it harder for immigrants to scale it, said the interior ministry on Friday.

The ministry's order comes two weeks after about 600 immigrants battled police as they tried to climb the 3m-high fence on makeshift ladders.

One immigrant died in the attempt, although the cause of his death was not immediately clear, said authorities.

The fence's height will be raised to 6m along the 10.2km border with Morocco, the ministry said.

It added that it was aiming to complete the job before the end of the year at a cost of $930 000.

The fence was built in the late 1990s to keep out illegal immigrants, many of whom were trying to escape poverty in northern or sub-Saharan Africa and find work in Europe.

At least 6 000 attempts have been made since the beginning of the year alone, said authorities.

Ceuta - Spain's other enclave in northern Africa, along Morocco's Mediterranean coast - is also surrounded by anti-immigration fencing.

Each year, thousands of Africans, many packed into small boats, try to reach Spanish territory in search of an improved lifestyle.

Many are caught and many drown while attempting the crossing, but officials estimate that thousands slip through each year.

- AP