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Cyprus police end migrant stand-off aboard cruise ship | |
(about 5 hours later) | |
Police in Cyprus have persuaded nearly 300 migrants, thought to be Syrian refugees, to disembark from the cruise ship that had rescued them. | |
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 migrants were rescued at sea by cruise ship Salamis Filoxenia. | |
Although 65 left the ship when it docked at Limassol, the rest reportedly insisted on being taken to Italy. | |
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. | |
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. | |
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. | |
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. |
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. |