A total of 3,020 immigrants have been repatriated between 2004 and the end of November, including 968 Egyptians, a spokesman for the Home Affairs Ministry said.

When contacted, the spokesman told timesofmalta.com that in 2004 and 2005, when there was an influx of arrivals from Egypt, Malta repatriated 212 and 426, respectively. In 2006 it repatriated 309.

As the numbers of arrivals from Egypt dwindled, three were repatriated in 2007 and 18 by the end of November this year.

There were 21 arrivals from Egypt this year. Two are in detention and the other arrival is in the process of being repatriated.

The spokesman said that the repatriation of Egyptians was possible because of an agreement with this country.

He insisted that repatriation was a priority for Malta and said that the total number of repatriated immigrants since 2004 up to the end of November numbered 3,020.

Unfortunately, an increasing number of illegal immigrants were now coming from countries such as Sierra Leone, Ivory Coast and Liberia, to where repatriation was more difficult.

Italy yesterday repatriated 38 Egyptians and Interior Minister Roberto Maroni said his country faced an emergency and would be sending back illegal immigrants who arrived on its shores.