Video: Migrants protest over new controls at Marsa centre

Police reinforcements were deployed to Marsa open centre earlier today after a fight between two migrants grew into a noisy protest against new controls at the gate of the centre.

Trouble started yesterday with a fight between two migrants, with one of them, who appeared drunk, being refused entry.

The person who was drunk returned to the centre today and trouble started once more. This morning happened to be busy at the centre, with social security money being handed out.

At one time the migrants started protesting at new, stricter controls imposed at the gate, arguing that this was either an open centre, or it wasn't.

The centre's management, however is arguing that they need to keep tabs on who is entering and leaving the centre.

Most of the protests appeared to be directed at Ghanaian-Maltese Ahmed Bugri, who has lived in Malta for 18 years and is now pastor and coordinator of the Marsa Open Centre. Some called for Mr Bugri's removal. He was in his office for several hours along with a number of policemen. Other policemen were posted outside.

Mr Bugri was later this afternoon able to leave his office safely and things returned to normal. No arrests were made.

Video shows scenes of the protests and one of the migrants arguing with Oliver Gatt, general manager of the open centre, about Mr Bugri.