(Adds government reaction)

The Opposition this morning slammed lack of security at detention centres and said it was unacceptable that people on duty there were injured.

But the government insisted that the forces of law and order intervened as soon as the riots started and were in control of the situation throughout.

Michael Falzon, main spokesman on home affairs, and Joe Debono Grech, in a statement said that the riot at Safi detention centre last Monday demonstrated the lack of security in detention centres. It also demonstrated the need for Malta to adopt the action plan on immigration which the Opposition announced last week.

It was essential, the spokesmen said, that those people working in detention centres had their security safeguarded. It was unacceptable that people who were on duty ended up being assaulted and injured.

They said the Opposition was reierating its call for the setting up of a Parliamentary committee to investigate the situation in detention and open centres.

The government said this afternoon that the immigrants who left the dormitories did not get out of the permietre set up around the warehouse compound at any time. In fact, the situation returned to normal within one and a half hours.

Moreover, Monday's incidents reduced the substance of speeches made by a number of Opposition spokesmen in the past weeks which gave the impression that the forces of law and order could not keep up with illegal migration.

The government said it was to remaim committed to improving conditions at detention centres while strengthening the forces of law and order in the sector.

It said that the Home Affairs Ministry, in a letter dated March 18, had already asked for the topic to be debated by the Social Affairs Committee of the House of Representatives.