EU Justice Commissioner Jacques Barrot this morning inspected detention camps and heard migrants explain their plight at the tent compound and at the Hermes Block in Hal Far.

Mr Barrot is in Malta on a two-day visited focused exclusively on illegal immigration.

The Hermes Block was singled out for criticism over poor conditions during a press conference by Medicins Sans Frontiers officials yesterday.

The migrants had prepared for Mr Barrot's visit and gave a noisy reception, displayed banners calling for freedom and for better conditions. Some of them spoke to Mr Barrot.

In the Hermes Block, Mr Barrot asked to go in unaccompanied so that the migrants would be better able to speak freely.

He later visited the open centre in Marsa.

The commissioner yesterday discussed immigration in meetings with the Prime Minster and with Home Affairs Minister Carm Mifsud Bonnici.

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