Italy negotiates Maghreban prisoners transfer

Italy is presently negotiating with Morocco, Tunisia and Algeria an agreement for the transfer of the three countries' prisoners to their home countries, Italian minister of justice, Roberto Castelli, said.

The official said the government has started negotiations with the three countries to reach a prisoners transfer agreement, similar to the one reached with Albania.

"Some 17,000 expatriates are currently imprisoned in Italian jails, out of 56,000 prisoners, and the number is expected to rise," he said.

The Italian government has financed the building of a prison in Albania, with an accommodation capacity of 700 detainees, he said.

"I am seeking to reach a similar agreement with other countries, mainly Tunisia, Algeria and Morocco, which have many expatriates currently incarcerated in Italy," said the minister expecting negotiations to be hard.