Finland has reintroduced visa requirements for Slovak citizens because of the large number of Slovak gypsies who have been entering the country.

The suspension of visa-free entry is to last for six months.

The Slovak gypsies say they are fleeing persecution, but correspondents say Finnish and Slovak officials agree that the main motives are economic.

The increasing number of Czech gypsies seeking asylum in Britain was discussed at talks in London yesterday between the Czech foreign minister, Jan Kavan, and his British counterpart, Robin Cook.

From the newsroom of the BBC World Service