Hunger striker taken to hospital

An illegal immigrant detained at Ta' Kandia who has been among a group of hunger strikers since Monday was taken to hospital yesterday by the police because of his condition.

The illegal immigrants are protesting over the long period they have been in detention.

Labour MP Joe Abela, who does voluntary work among the migrants, said migrants were also on hunger strike in other detention centres. They have been in detention for between one and two years.

A Liberian migrant who contacted The Times said 80 migrants were on hunger strike at Hal Far. Some have been refusing food since Tuesday to protest over their detention. The migrant said he and most of the migrants had been held for 18 months.

"We have not broken any law in Malta," he said, protesting over the detention. He said all had applied for asylum and their application been turned down, and now they did not know what was to become of them.