Police have bulldozed a notorious immigrant squatter camp near Calais - detaining hundreds who hoped to slip across the English Channel into Britain.
France's immigration Minister Eric Besson, who visited the site known as "the Jungle", called it a "base camp for human traffickers".
He said he would return the rule of law to the northern French coast, adding: "The law of the jungle cannot last eternally."
The people who camped here - mainly immigrants from Afghanistan - have strained relations between the UK and France and become a symbol of Europe's struggle with illegal immigration.
A total of 278 people - nearly half of them minors - were detained in the first part of the operation, said Pierre de Bousquet de Florian, a Pas-de-Calais region official.
"This operation is not targeting the migrants themselves, it is targeting the logistics of the human traffickers... who exploit them," he said.
The migrants carried bags and blankets as they were led away by police.
Activists opposing the clearance yelled at officers and some formed a human chain around the migrants. Other protesters briefly scuffled with riot police.
Many detainees sobbed as they were loaded onto buses, saying they wanted to stay in the camp and voicing fears about being returned to Afghanistan.
Mr Besson said there was no violence in the operation and all personal belongings were collected and being sorted in the Calais mosque.
Thirty interpreters and a medical team helped authorities and hundreds of temporary beds were arranged for those in custody.
Bulldozers were later brought in to level the maze of makeshift tents built from sticks and sheets of plastic.
Activist group Refugee Action called the police operation "horrific" and inhumane, but agreed the squalid camp should not have been permitted to sprout up in the first place.
The tent city grew after France closed a large Red Cross centre at nearby Sangatte in 2002 under pressure from the UK, which saw it as a magnet for illegal immigrants.
British Home Secretary Alan Johnson said he was "delighted" that the camp was being closed.
The UK has ruled out taking the migrants in, and Mr Johnson said genuine refugees should apply for asylum in the country where they entered the EU.
Mr Besson said other, smaller camps scattered around the region - sheltering Iraqi Kurds and illegal migrants from other trouble spots - would also be cleared out this week.
The detainees were to be sent back to the countries where they entered the European Union.
All those humanitarian group members always appear there to defend wrong cases. Useful idiots
Britain invades Afghanistan and causes death and destruction, it destabilises an already poverty stricken country, causing thousands of refugees. There are two million refugees as a result of the invasion of Iraq.
Britain contributed towards the refugee problem, and they should have a moral responsibility towards these people,
In the spirit of praying for justice for the poor and oppressed
Eric
You will never look into the eyes of anyone who does not matter to God.
British Home Secretary Alan Johnson said he was "delighted" that the camp was being closed.
The UK has ruled out taking the migrants in, and Mr Johnson said genuine refugees should apply for asylum in the country where they entered the EU.
Does anyone else find the juxtaposition of the sentences I've highlighted to be kind of funny?
'I'm delighted they've closed that camp down! Mostly because they're now very unlikely to come to my country and I don't really care about their future wellbeing!'
Does anyone else find the juxtaposition of the sentences I've highlighted to be kind of funny?
'I'm delighted they've closed that camp down! Mostly because they're now very unlikely to come to my country and I don't really care about their future wellbeing!'
Not really. The question is why did they travel through countries such as Ukraine, Poland, Germany and then France to seek life in Britain? All these countries are part of the EU and they could have claimed Asylum there. Why the UK? I know the answer to that and the UK should stand their ground and thanks to the French for doing us the favour. We have too many immigrants in the UK as it is. This island is full, seek elswhere. With the French clamping down on these migrants the UK immigration will fall dramatically.
Britain has spent billions of pounds fighting a war in Afghanistan and killing people, we should be able to spend a few million pounds helping people.
Which is better to do shoot them, or give them aid? Britain is a part of the problem, and Britain needs to be a part of the solution too.
In the spirit of praying for justice for the poor and oppressed
Eric
We have taken our fair share of migrants in and we have taken more than enough in. The gates should now be closed fully. The war in Afghanistan is being fought by NATO. As I asked, why can they not seek asylum in the EU country that they entered the European Union? What's wrong with Saudi Arabia, Thailand, India etc? Their borders are open... Why Europe?
To me I believe it's a financial thing. In Britain refugees are given cash, a house, a job, a car etc. The government is too soft.
We have taken our fair share of migrants in and we have taken more than enough in. The gates should now be closed fully. The war in Afghanistan is being fought by NATO.
I suppose the Labour government's support of the war was a total, irrelevant coincedence.
No, Labour is reaping what it has sown (or rather, would like to avoid reaping what it has sown).
My sympathies to the French though. All these refugees aren't morally their problem considering the population and the government opposed the war.
I suppose the Labour government's support of the war was a total, irrelevant coincedence.
No, Labour is reaping what it has sown (or rather, would like to avoid reaping what it has sown).
My sympathies to the French though. All these refugees aren't morally their problem considering the population and the government opposed the war.
Sangatte was initially opened in 1999, to cope with the refugees who were already living rough in the area trying to get through the tunnel to the UK. n other words the problem was there for years before the Afghan invasion.
Sangatte was initially opened in 1999, to cope with the refugees who were already living rough in the area trying to get through the tunnel to the UK. n other words the problem was there for years before the Afghan invasion.
In that case, refugees/immigrants are ill-informed about the relative strength of the modern British economy.
Britain has spent billions of pounds fighting a war in Afghanistan and killing people, we should be able to spend a few million pounds helping people.
Which is better to do shoot them, or give them aid? Britain is a part of the problem, and Britain needs to be a part of the solution too.
In the spirit of praying for justice for the poor and oppressed
Eric
If european goverments lived under this rule,we would have to accept few millions asians and africans a year. I think that Your view of the politics is too idealistic. Beautiful words are easy to say, what about asking Brittons or Frenchmen, whether they want new immigrants or not.
This country is dying because of a lack of men, not a lack of programs.
Britain invades Afghanistan and causes death and destruction, it destabilises an already poverty stricken country, causing thousands of refugees. There are two million refugees as a result of the invasion of Iraq.
Britain contributed towards the refugee problem, and they should have a moral responsibility towards these people,
Do you mean they want to go to Britain because Britain invaded Afghanistan, made them became refugees, and they ask a responsibility from Britain ?.
If this is their reason, why don't they go to U.S ?.
I think that Your view of the politics is too idealistic. Beautiful words are easy to say, what about asking Brittons or Frenchmen, whether they want new immigrants or not.
At some point we shall all have to stand before God, how can I justify my thoughts and actions, when it comes to the poor and the oppressed?
Should I be more worried about the British and French, or should I be more worried about standing before God?
And Jesus said, what you do the least of these brothers of mine, so you do unto me.
In the spirit of paying for justice for the poor and oppressed.
Eric
You will never look into the eyes of anyone who does not matter to God.
Do you mean they want to go to Britain because Britain invaded Afghanistan, made them became refugees, and they ask a responsibility from Britain ?.
If this is their reason, why don't they go to U.S
I am not exactly sure as to why they should want to came to Briton, but they are all camped out in Calais with that intention, maybe the thought of easy money is one reason.
They are individuals with a story of hardship, suffering, and living through one conflict after another.
Briton is a major player in the present conflict, and we cannot and should not wash our hands of all responsibility. The Afghan farmers, shopkeepers, factory workers, did not want Briton to invade their country, they had nothing to do with 9 / 11, but they are suffering.
Briton has spent billions of pounds in this conflict, they should spend the same amount of money in restoring justice and peace for these people.
You will never look into the eyes of anyone who does not matter to God, and I believe the poor and oppressed people are our sin against God.
In the spirit of praying for justice for all people.
Eric
You will never look into the eyes of anyone who does not matter to God.
Britain invades Afghanistan and causes death and destruction, it destabilises an already poverty stricken country, causing thousands of refugees. There are two million refugees as a result of the invasion of Iraq.
Britain contributed towards the refugee problem, and they should have a moral responsibility towards these people,
In the spirit of praying for justice for the poor and oppressed
Eric
Actually, that is incorrect. Since 2002, when the US and its allies started to get involved in Afghanistan 5 million refugees (yes, million) have returned to the country. You have to keep in mind that Afghanistan was already in a civil war pre-9/11.
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