AA/Rabat
Twenty-three irregular migrants were killed trying to cross the Spanish enclave of Melilla, according to a new report relayed on Saturday by official Moroccan media.
Moroccan national television “Al Aoula” reported, citing local sources in the province of Nador (north), that “five migrants died on Saturday evening”.
Spain announced on Friday that more than 2,000 migrants attempted to illegally cross Melilla, an enclave subject to Spanish administration in the territories of Morocco.
The Spanish enclave, separated from Moroccan territory by an iron fence, is known to be a transit point for African migrants heading to Europe.
At least 18 people from sub-Saharan Africa were killed trying to force entry to the Melilla border crossing, according to a statement released Friday evening by the authorities of the province of Nador (northeast).
Melilla authorities have announced that at least 130 migrants have managed to return to the Spanish enclave following this massive entry attempt.
Spain has exercised sovereignty over Ceuta since 1580 and over Melilla since 1496, while Morocco considers them to be part of its national territory.
The Jaafarin Islands and other rocky islands in the Mediterranean are also under Spanish administration.
This storming of the Spanish enclave is the first since the normalization of relations between Madrid and Rabat in mid-March, following a diplomatic crisis of almost a year.
*Translated from Arabic by Hajer Cherni
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