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Cyprus cruise ship rescued migrants 'refuse to disembark' Cyprus police end migrant stand-off aboard cruise ship
(about 5 hours later)
Almost 300 people, thought to be Syrian refugees, are refusing to disembark from a cruise ship that rescued them off the coast of Cyprus, officials say. Police in Cyprus have persuaded nearly 300 migrants, thought to be Syrian refugees, to disembark from the cruise ship that had rescued them.
Salamis Cruise Lines Managing Director Kikis Vassiliou said they were insisting they be taken to Italy. Police negotiators coaxed the migrants off the ship in the early hours of Friday, an official said, ending a stand-off that began on Thursday.
The cruise ship, Salamis Filoxenia, is in the port of Limassol and all those rescued are said to be in good health. The migrants were rescued at sea by cruise ship Salamis Filoxenia.
The Cypriot defence ministry said 52 children were on the small fishing boat that had sent a distress signal. Although 65 left the ship when it docked at Limassol, the rest reportedly insisted on being taken to Italy.
Of the 345 migrants plucked from the sea about 65 willingly left the ship at Limassol and were taken by bus to the Kokkinotrimithia camp not far from Nicosia. The Cypriot defence ministry said 52 children were on the small fishing boat that had sent a distress signal. All those rescued are said to be in good health.
Negotiations with those refusing to leave were continuing on Friday morning with doctors, nurses, civil defence and Red Cross workers on hand. Meanwhile, 300 Russian passengers who had been due to continue their cruise to Haifa, Israel, on board the Salamis Filoxenia had their journey cancelled and were put up in Limassol hotels.
Meanwhile, 300 Russian passengers who had been due to continue their cruise to Haifa, Israel, had their journey cancelled and were put up in Limassol hotels. Salamis Cruise Lines Managing Director Kikis Vassiliou said the company's losses as a result of the rescue had run into hundreds of thousands of euros.
"We were supposed to sail at 10:30 tonight (19:30 GMT), unfortunately these people want to negotiate," Mr Vassiliou told reporters. "They want us to send them to Italy.
"We did our outmost to save their lives, to give them food, support and now they want to destroy this company," he added, quoted by AFP news agency, saying the company's losses as a result of the rescue had run into hundreds of thousands of euros.
Aid workers said eight of those rescued had suffered some dehydration, while some others had "minor" problems.Aid workers said eight of those rescued had suffered some dehydration, while some others had "minor" problems.
The fishing boat was spotted in rough seas 55 nautical miles (100km) south of the town of Paphos.The fishing boat was spotted in rough seas 55 nautical miles (100km) south of the town of Paphos.
"It was quite a difficult operation," Mr Vassiliou was earlier quoted as saying by the Cyprus Mail website."It was quite a difficult operation," Mr Vassiliou was earlier quoted as saying by the Cyprus Mail website.
"All the passengers are safe."
Cypriot authorities said they had picked up a radio distress signal as the boat was caught in rough seas.Cypriot authorities said they had picked up a radio distress signal as the boat was caught in rough seas.
This year has seen a dramatic increase in the number of migrants crossing the Mediterranean in overcrowded boats - particularly people fleeing the conflict in Syria. The majority have headed for Italy and Malta.This year has seen a dramatic increase in the number of migrants crossing the Mediterranean in overcrowded boats - particularly people fleeing the conflict in Syria. The majority have headed for Italy and Malta.
Libya, racked by unrest and lawlessness, has become a major people-trafficking hub. However, Cyprus lies closer to Syria.Libya, racked by unrest and lawlessness, has become a major people-trafficking hub. However, Cyprus lies closer to Syria.