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Calais migrant eviction under way Calais migrant eviction under way
(19 minutes later)
French police have begun an operation to dismantle a makeshift camp set up by migrants near the port of Calais.French police have begun an operation to dismantle a makeshift camp set up by migrants near the port of Calais.
Officials had vowed that the camp, known as "the jungle", would be demolished by the end of the week. Hundreds of police were evicting about 300 migrants still in the camp, known as "the jungle", although more than 1,000 migrants had already left.
The camp has been home to up to 1,500 migrants - although most had left in the face of the operation. There were reports that some rights protesters had been arrested.
Refugee groups have urged Britain to take some of the asylum seekers but the UK says reports it could be forced to take migrants were wrong.Refugee groups have urged Britain to take some of the asylum seekers but the UK says reports it could be forced to take migrants were wrong.
ResignedResigned
The BBC's Emma Jane Kirby says hundreds of police were deployed for the eviction operation. The BBC's Emma Jane Kirby says that overnight the inhabitants put up banners saying "please don't destroy our jungle - this is our home" but she says they seemed resigned to their eviction.
About 300 migrants were still in the camp as the operation began early on Tuesday.
We expect those who are not in need of protection to return home UK Home Secretary Alan JohnsonWe expect those who are not in need of protection to return home UK Home Secretary Alan Johnson
Our correspondent says that overnight the inhabitants put up banners saying "please don't destroy our jungle - this is our home" but she says they seem resigned to their eviction. Rights activists initially formed a human chain as the operation began early on Tuesday.
But officers then started to lead out the migrants individually. They offered no resistance, although the rights protesters continued to shout slogans and some were reportedly arrested.
The migrants are being bussed to centres around Calais for processing.
France says all will be offered the chance to apply for asylum or voluntary assisted repatriation.
However, many of the camp's inhabitants left before the operation and correspondents say it is feared they will simply set up camp somewhere else.
'Delighted'
On their last night in the camp, some of those who remained said they feared for the future.On their last night in the camp, some of those who remained said they feared for the future.
One resident, Bashir, a 24-year-old English teacher from northern Afghanistan, told the AFP news agency he had paid $15,000 (10,000 euros; £9,000) to travel to Europe through Pakistan and Istanbul.One resident, Bashir, a 24-year-old English teacher from northern Afghanistan, told the AFP news agency he had paid $15,000 (10,000 euros; £9,000) to travel to Europe through Pakistan and Istanbul.
Officials say the illegal camps are a health hazard
He said: "We have no idea what the police will do, if they will take us or let us go free.He said: "We have no idea what the police will do, if they will take us or let us go free.
"But here we already made our place. We have our homes, our showers and our mosque," he added."But here we already made our place. We have our homes, our showers and our mosque," he added.
UK Home Secretary Alan Johnson, speaking after talks in Brussels with his French counterpart Eric Besson on Monday, said he was "delighted" about the impending closure of the camp. UK Home Secretary Alan Johnson, speaking after talks in Brussels with his French counterpart Eric Besson on Monday, said he was "delighted" about the closure of the camp.
He said genuine refugees should apply for asylum in the country where they entered the EU.He said genuine refugees should apply for asylum in the country where they entered the EU.
Mr Johnson said: "Both countries are committed to helping individuals who are genuine refugees, who should apply for protection in the first safe country that they reach.Mr Johnson said: "Both countries are committed to helping individuals who are genuine refugees, who should apply for protection in the first safe country that they reach.
Officials say the illegal camps are a health hazard
"We expect those who are not in need of protection to return home.""We expect those who are not in need of protection to return home."
On Monday a spokesman for EU justice commissioner Jacques Barrot denied reports he had called for a change in the law to allow some migrants to be fast-tracked into the UK.On Monday a spokesman for EU justice commissioner Jacques Barrot denied reports he had called for a change in the law to allow some migrants to be fast-tracked into the UK.
Michele Cercone told the BBC there was no attempt to force countries to take asylum seekers and Mr Barrot was urging France and the UK to "find a joint solution".Michele Cercone told the BBC there was no attempt to force countries to take asylum seekers and Mr Barrot was urging France and the UK to "find a joint solution".
"The European Commission and European Union are not going to oblige any member state to take in refugees. If this is done, it is with the agreement of member states and mostly on a voluntary basis," he said.
The UK-based Refugee Council wants Britain to accept some migrants, particularly children, with family connections in the UK.The UK-based Refugee Council wants Britain to accept some migrants, particularly children, with family connections in the UK.
The UN's High Commissioner for Refugees, Antonio Guterres, has asked the British government to consider granting entry to migrants who already had large families in the UK. French officials had said the jungle had become a haven for people-smuggling gangs and a no-go zone for local residents.
French officials say the jungle has become a haven for people-smuggling gangs and a no-go zone for local residents.
Makeshift insanitary camps sprang up after officials closed the Red Cross centre at Sangatte in November 2002.Makeshift insanitary camps sprang up after officials closed the Red Cross centre at Sangatte in November 2002.