European police chiefs try to stop illegal immigrants

Police chiefs from six European Union countries and Turkey have agreed a series of measures to stem an influx illegal migrants.

The meeting in Rome was called after thousands of people, mainly Turkish Kurds, arrived at Italian ports in recent weeks.

Although no specific measures were announced, the BBC Rome correspondent says the package is expected to include greater co-operation between member states and increased border and coastal patrols.

Under the terms of the European Union's open border Schengen agreement, once people have entered Italy, a Schengen member, they are technically free to travel without passport controls to other member countries.

From the newsroom of the BBC World Service