Spain to send illegals back
19/03/2006 21:46  - (SA)  

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Exodus of Africans a 'crisis' New bid to halt 'freedom' flight 1 000 die 'sailing to freedom' 1 000 storm Spanish enclave

Madrid - Spain is to deport to Mauritania about 170 would-be African immigrants intercepted by authorities in recent days while attempting to cross to the Canary Islands by boat, it was announced on Sunday.

Deputy prime minister Maria Teresa Fernandez de la Vega speaking during a visit to Tenerife said the immigrants would be returned to the west African desert nation as soon as possible.

The Canary Islands have in recent months been targeted by large numbers of illegal immigrants seeking to enter Europe.

Up to 1 000 Africans, the majority of them Mauritanians, are believed to have landed on the island group in the past week alone.

Citizens of 16 other African countries may enter Mauritania freely by just showing their identity documents, making it easy for illegals to pass through the country, according to Spanish reports.

Hundreds of west and central Africans are believed to have drowned while attempting to make the 800km crossing from Mauritania or Western Sahara to the Canary Islands over the past months.

Spanish foreign minister Miguel Angel Moratinos has asked the Austrian presidency of the European Union Council to include the immigration issue on the agenda of the next EU foreign ministers' summit. - Sapa-dpa

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