Morocco vows to help immigrants

2005-10-07 13:40

Nador - Morocco promised shelter, medical care and dignified treatment for African immigrants being sent back from Spain, the official MAP news agency reported on Friday.

MAP said Morocco agreed on Thursday to take back 73 Africans. It did not give their nationalities but said they originated from countries south of the Sahara Desert. Spain said the men came from Mali, and had arrived in the Spanish enclave of Melilla over the past few days during massive rushes over the border. They were being sent back to Morocco by boat.

MAP, citing the interior ministry, said Moroccan authorities have prepared shelter and medical assistance for the group "out of respect for their dignity".

It said the measures demonstrate Morocco's willingness to strengthen co-operation with Spain in the face of the "shared challenge" of illegal immigration.

A humanitarian crisis at two Spanish enclaves in northeastern Morocco turned deadly for a second time in a week, with six Africans reportedly killed overnight on Wednesday/Thursday in clashes with Moroccan forces as hundreds rushed guard posts in their desperation to reach Europe.

For the past week, increasing waves of men from impoverished, sub-Saharan African nations seeking to set foot on European territory have swarmed over guard posts along the borders separating the centuries-old Spanish enclaves from Morocco.

- AP