All Tunisian migrants who arrived in Malta on February 1 have now been repatriated, a spokesman for the Ministry of Home Affairs said today.

The Tunisians, numbering 71, were in a group of some 260 who arrived in an overcrowded fishing boat at Birzebbuga.

They were not eligible for humanitarian or refugee status and were kept in detention until repatriation. Their transfer, however, was delayed because of the late receipt of official travel documents from Tunis - an issue which last week was discussed when the Tunisian Foreign Minister was in Malta.

A number of the Tunisians had escaped detention, while others had caused disturbances, while demanding repatriation, and were taken to court.

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