The Moroccan government has denied allegations made by the Doctors without Frontiers (MSF) charitable organisation that it has abandoned 500 sub-Saharian immigrants caught trying to cross the border fences surrounding the enclaves of Ceuta and Melilla, in the desert near the Algerian border. The Spanish government has said that it is investigating the case, and confirmed that the 73 immigrants deported from Melilla yesterday have now arrived in Tangiers.

The MSF produced photographic evidence that a large number of immigrants, including wounded, a pregnant women and a child, are being held in the village of El Aoina-Souatar. It is alleged that the immigrants were subjected to a 12 hour journey in a military convoy, and are without food, drinking water or medical attention. The likelihood is that these immigrants will make their way on foot north towards the town of Oujda, from where they will renew their efforts to enter Spain illegally.

UN secretary general Kofi Annan has said that he is "deeply concerned" about the situation, and has urged the Spanish and Moroccan governments to deal with the situation humanely. Both the EU and the UN are sending teams of investigators to Morocco to ensure that the immigrants' human rights are being respected.

Morocco claims enclave immigrants `shot in self defence´
Friday, October 7, 2005

The official version of the Moroccan government is that the six sub-Saharian immigrants who were killed while trying to cross the perimeter fences surrounding Melilla yesterday morning, were shot in self defence by their border patrol forces in the face of what they describe as an extremely violent and desperate assault.

The governor of the province of Nador, Abdelá Bendhiba, explained that "400 clandestine sub-Saharian launched an attack on surveillance posts installed by Moroccan authorities on Mount Gurugú. During the attack, the assailants displayed an unusual degree of violence, obliging security agents to respond within the bounds of legitimate self defence."

Until yesterday, Morocco had denied that its agents had fired live ammunition to repel any of the recent attacks on Spain's enclave borders.

No further attacks were reported last night.

Spain begins enclave repatriations
Friday, October 7, 2005

The first group of seventy illegal sub-Saharian immigrants were returned to Morocco yesterday afternoon by a slightly circuitous route; they were flown to Algeciras via Málaga and then sent by boat back to Tangiers. A second group of thirty will be shipped out to Málaga today, but will be interned in Spain, where they will be prosecuted.

The decision to start repatriating the immigrants who have successfully stormed the enclave borders over recent weeks was announced yesterday by Interior minister, Juan Antonio Alonso, and government first vice-president, María Teresa Fernández de la Vega, who visited the region earlier this week. The automatic expulsions are based on a treaty signed with Moroccan authorities in 1992.

Moroccan authorities have confirmed that six immigrants were killed early yesterday morning  during the most recent assault on the Melilla perimeter fence; some were shot while others were crushed to death by their companions. A total of 14 immigrants have died during the last week trying to cross the Ceuta and Melilla borders.
 
Border police thwart latest enclave border assault
Thursday, October 6, 2005

Spanish and Moroccan security forces successfully prevented any of the 1.000-1,500 immigrants who stormed the Melilla border fence, from entering Spanish territory during the early hours of this morning. A Guardia Civil helicopter equipped with night vision equipment took part in the operation, supported by a second helicopter equipped with floodlights, which was supplied by Moroccan authorities. Last night's attempt was focused on areas close to the Chinese quarter and the Farhana district, and resulted in an unconfirmed number of injuries to both immigrants and border patrol officers. This is the fifth attempt registered in the last week.

Government first vice-president María Teresa Fernández de la Vega made a surprise visit to the enclave last night to see the situation for herself following meetings with the presidents of Ceuta and Melilla at the Moncloa Palace in Madrid yesterday. Melilla president, Juan José Imbroda, pointed out that improved cooperation between Spanish and Moroccan forces had been a key factor in preventing the attack.

Enclave border stormed for fourth time in seven days
Wednesday, October 5, 2005

Around a hundred mainly sub-Saharian immigrants tried to climb over the fence surrounding Melilla during the early hours of this morning, while 140 others were prevented from doing so by Moroccan authorities in Nador. This is the fourth time in the last seven days that such an attempt has been made. The government announced yesterday that a third perimeter fence would be constructed around each of the enclaves, and government first vice-president, María Fernández de la Vega, is meeting the presidents of Ceuta and Melilla in Madrid today.

Two separate groups stormed the fence this morning in the area known as Pinares de Rostrogordo, where the fence has not yet been raised from three to six metres. Around 40 immigrants managed to penetrate the border, and are being held in custody at Melilla police headquarters (photo). Several of them suffered minor cuts and bruises, and one Guardia Civil officer was injured when the all-terrain vehicle he was travelling in, overturned.

There has been a marked rise in this type of incident in recent months, according to secretary of state for Security, Antonio Camacho, who pointed out that in 2002 the fence was stormed three times, and seven times last year. Since the 5th May this year, there have been 21 attempts.

To combat the problem, the government has announced that the two existing perimeter fences would be raised from three to six metres, that video cameras and infrared movement sensors will be installed, and Spanish troops have been deployed to support Guardia Civil border patrols.