Escapee claims 150-160 are still in prison

Between 150 - 160 of the Eritreans deported from Malta are still being detained in prison, an escapee is claiming.

One to two men have been killed and at least eight have been "permanently disfigured", the 24-year-old Eritrean told The Times in an interview from Sweden, where he is now staying.

He is one of the 223 Eritreans deported from Malta in the autumn of 2002 against their wishes. The government has maintained it had abided by the normal terms and conditions for refugee claims and deportation.

The Eritrean, a former university student, gave a harrowing account of his imprisonment after being deported from Malta.

He says he succeeded in escaping from a detention centre in Eritrea and three weeks later reached Sudan. With the assistance of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees he was then relocated to Sweden.