The law courts last night opened their doors with urgency to accept a judicial protest signed by 69 lawyers obliging the Government to respect the rule of law and desist from its intention to illegally force a group of irregular immigrants back to Libya.

Speaking outside the court house, the President of the Chamber of Advocates, Reuben Balzan, said this was a personal initiative by the lawyers.

They said it was unacceptable that the Government was intending to break the law and was considering opting to send back irregular immigrants who had the right to seek protection under to inter-national law.

Dr Balzan said that upon taking the oath as lawyers they were obliged, according to the Constitution, to make sure the law was respected.

It was objectionable that the Maltese Government was insisting on going against fundamental rights as established by the European Court of Human Rights in a recent judgment against push backs performed by Italy.

In their protest, filed against the Prime Minister, the Home Affairs and National Security Minister, the heads of the Armed Forces and the Police and the Attorney General, the lawyers insisted they should refrain from breaking the law by returning irregular immigrants against their wishes.