Some 300 Moroccans handcuffed in Mellilia

Some 300 Moroccan illegal immigrants were handcuffed Monday in Mellilia, a Moroccan northern city under Spanish rule.

The undocumented travellers were caught in a hideout, pending their departure to Spain, Spanish news agency EFE reported, which added that the illegal immigrants were repatriated.

Relatedly, the Spanish authorities in the city of Sebta, also occupied by Spain, started procedures to grant political asylum to 43 Algerian nationals, EFE said.

Another 127 Algerians are currently given shelter in immigrant camps in Sebta.