Migrants: Senegal to help Spain
13/09/2006 11:05  - (SA)  

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Senegal may jail migrants Senegal may jail migrants Spain not sending back illegals 'Aliens' returned by planeload

Dakar - Senegal said on Tuesday that it would co-operate with Spain to repatriate hundreds of illegal Senegalese migrants from the Canary Islands as long as their "dignity and human rights" were respected.

Interior minister Ousmane Ngom said Senegalese police and diplomats were working to identify nationals from the West African country stranded on the Canary Islands, where hundreds of illegal immigrants fearing repatriation had staged protests.

The minister said: "Once that's done, of course we will take the steps so that this repatriation can take place", but didn't specify a date or timetable.

A previous agreement to repatriate illegal Senegalese migrants from the Canaries collapsed in late May after Dakar withdrew from the operation, saying its nationals were mistreated during the repatriation process.

A protest broke out on Sunday at the overcrowded Matorral detention centre on Fuerteventura after Senegalese police arrived to identify their citizens so Spain could fly them home.

A senior Senegalese police officer in Dakar said: "It's up to the Spaniards to decide how they get them on the planes."

- Reuters

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