Date: Sun, 19 Oct 2014 18:32:28 +0200
Egypt arrests around 200 illegal migrants near Libya
Migrants were trying to enter Libya through the Mediterranean city of Marsa
Matrouh, a gateway to the neighbouring African country
Ahram Online , Sunday 19 Oct 2014
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Egypt's army and border guards on Sunday arrested 196 illegal migrants
attempting to infiltrate Libya through its borders, Al-Ahram's Arabic news
website reported.
The arrestees, who include a Palestinian and two Sudanese, are also accused
of being present in an off-limits military area. They were caught near the
northern coastal city of Marsa Matrouh.
Investigations with military prosecutors are underway.
On Saturday, state news agency MENA reported that 104 persons, including
four Sudanese nationals, were arrested while trying to illegally infiltrate
Libya through desert pathways in Matrouh's city of Salloum.
Libya is a main destination for Egyptian migrants seeking job opportunities
overseas, mostly due to geographical proximity and open border policies
which, until 2006, had allowed Egyptians to enter and reside there with as
little as a valid identification card.
But the Egyptian government has repeatedly and firmly warned against any
travel to the North African country as extreme violence and deadly militia
rivalries have worsened in recent months.
In August, thousands of Egyptians trying to flee the strife-torn country
were airlifted home, leaving their belongings behind.
The International Organisation for Migration estimates that 330,000 to 1.5
million Egyptians worked in Libya up until the ongoing unrest that began
following the NATO-backed uprising that toppled autocrat Muammar Gaddafi in
2011.
The number of Egyptian expats has sharply dwindled since.
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