THE SPANISH COASTGUARD INTERCEPTED AROUND 900 AFRICAN ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS OFF THE COASTS OF THE CANARY ISLANDS OVER THE WEEKEND, AUTHORITIES IN SANTA CRUZ SAID SUNDAY, DPA REPORTED. THE IMMIGRANTS, WHO INCLUDED MORE THAN 30 CHILDREN AND YOUTHS, HAD SET SAIL IN SIX BOATS FROM SENEGAL IN WEST AFRICA, AUTHORITIES SAID. THE RED CROSS HAS SET UP A CENTRE IN THE TOURIST RESORT OF LOS CRISTIANOS ON THE ISLAND OF TENERIFE TO LOOK AFTER THE ARRIVING IMMIGRANTS. A LARGE NUMBER OF REFUGEES HAVE BEEN ACCOMMODATED TEMPORARILY IN AN ARMY BARRACKS AS SHELTERS ARE ALREADY FULL. DESPITE THE RIGOURS OF THE JOURNEY, MOST OF THE REFUGEES WERE IN GOOD HEALTH AND DID NOT NEED MEDICAL AID, SPANISH MEDIA REPORTED. THE GOVERNMENT OF THE AUTONOMOUS CANARY REGION ACCUSED THE CENTRAL SPANISH GOVERNMENT OF INACTIVITY. MADRID WAS NOT SHOWING ENOUGH INTEREST IN THE CANARY ISLANDS AND WAS NOT DOING ENOUGH TO STOP THE FLOW OF IMMIGRANTS, SAID A SPOKESMAN IN SANTA CRUZ. SPAIN WANTS TO DEPORT THE MIGRANTS TO THEIR NATIVE COUNTRIES.
