September 22, 2009 1:19 pm

Slideshow: French migrant clampdown

IN World

Migrants warm themselves by a fire in the area known as 'the jungle' on the outskirts of Calais as they display banners in English and Pashtun protesting against their removal.
Activists from an anti-globalisation group No Border attempted to form a human chain around the camp but were shunted aside by the police.
Riot police jostle with protesters. The sweep by 500 police officers took place in front of scores of journalists and human rights campaigners tipped off about the operation.
According to the French authorities, 276 illegal migrants, including 132 declaring themselves as children, were detained in the operation and taken to specialist immigration detention centres.
The encampment on wasteland outside the port town was at one stage home to several hundred migrants intent on covertly entering the UK by stowing themselves away on lorries heading over the Channel by ferry or through the Channel tunnel.
Some of the migrants cried as they were led away from the makeshift tent city.
Some migrants who were refusing to move were dragged and carried out of the camp by police.
A migrant from Afghan weeps as police evacuate him and others from the camp.
After removing the migrants the authorities set about clearing the camp of its make-shift plastic and cardboard shelters scattered between the bushes.
France says those detained will be offered the chance to apply for asylum or voluntary assisted repatriation.

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French police clear a migrant camp in Calais dubbed ”The Jungle”.

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