Spain repels African immigrants

Spanish authorities have been trying to reinforce the border fence

Some 1,000 African migrants who stormed a razor-wire border fence between Morocco and the Spanish enclave of Melilla were repelled by police.

Hundreds of armed forces are deployed along the border to keep migrants out.

It is the third mass border charge this week and comes as Spain announced plans to begin repatriating illegal migrants.

It is reviving a 1992 accord with Morocco to allow expulsions of illegal entrants back to Morocco, even if they are of different nationalities.

Thousands of sub-Saharan Africans, who live in tents on the Moroccan side of the border, have tried to force their way into Melilla and Spain's other north African enclave Ceuta, over the past 10 days.

Last Thursday, five people died while trying to break into Ceuta. Initial reports said they were crushed to death, but Spanish media subsequently claimed they may have been shot by Morccan police.

Melilla and nearby Ceuta are seen as stepping stones to Europe by African migrants.