Around 300 Somali illegal immigrants at the Safi Barracks demanded freedom during a five-hour protest yesterday.

A very strong police presence kept a close eye on the protest, which started at around 10 a.m.

There are around 500 illegal immigrants detained in two buildings at the barracks - 300 of whom are Somalis.

"Since they are from Somalia, they feel they should have priority and automatically be granted refugee status. However, Malta's detention policy is what it is and it isn't going to change for them," a spokesmen for the Home Affairs ministry said.

"The Commission for Refugees processes the immigrants' applications according to each boat arrival. Only recently, a number of immigrants arriving last July and August were granted humanitarian status," he said.

Police sources said the Somalis were annoyed that other immigrants at Safi Barracks were granted refugee or humanitarian status and allowed to leave.

No one was injured during the protest, but police sources said that a number of items were damaged. It seems that several iron doors were removed from their hinges.

Members of the police cavalry, the Criminal Investigation Department, Vice Squad, Dog Squad and mobile squad stood guard outside the entrance to the barracks. Members of the Special Assignment Group and Armed Forces kept close tabs on the situation inside. Assistant Commissioners Josie Brincat and Pierre Calleja were also present at the barracks.

The protest came to an end at around 3 p.m., following the intervention of Detention Service Commander Colonel Brian Gatt.