A group of nine illegal immigrants from Nigeria who were involved in riots on Cyprus last night have been refused passage by the airline assigned to deport them.

Police say the pilot of the Balkan Airlines flight refused to let the illegal immigrants board because they were not accompanied by security personnel.

The pilot said it was not the airline's job to accompany deportees and he would not let the Nigerians sit with other passengers.

The nine -- who were part of a larger group which arrived on Cyprus six months ago -- had been due to fly to Lagos via Bulgaria.