BBC News Online: World: Europe

Gypsy boat intercepted by Italy

Those on board the boat were said to be gypsies who had set off from Montenegro. About half of them were children, the authorities said.

The vessel, called the Milos, was taken under Italian military escort to the port of Bari where the passengers greeted their arrival with enthusiastic applause.

Italy's Ansa news agency quoted one of the arrivals who said gypsies - known as Roma - were being "hunted" by Kosovo Albanians.

"We have nothing, we have no homes, we have nothing to eat, and above all, we're afraid, afraid of being killed," the man said.

Illegal immigrants

Italy has said it will not grant refugee status to new arrivals from Kosovo and would consider all those without visas as illegal immigrants who can be deported swiftly.

Many new arrivals have been taken to reception centres, which often provide illegal immigrants with a first stop on the way into other western European countries.

These latest passengers were taken for medical examination and identification, and then on to reception centres.

One report says the authorities took two men from Romania into custody because they were suspected of being immigrant traffickers.

Many gypsies are believed to be fleeing Kosovo because they fear reprisals from returning Kosovo Albanians, who accuse them of collaborating with the Serbian forces.

Thousands are thought to have landed illegally in Italy since the end of the Kosovo war.

Relevant Stories

Russia accused in Kosovo (01 Aug 99 | Europe)
Blair: End ethnic hatred (31 Jul 99 | UK)
Kosovo reprisals horrify UN (17 Jul 99 | Europe)
Kosovo gypsies under threat (05 Jul 99 | Europe)
Analysis: Gypsies 'caught in the middle' (05 Jul 99 | Europe)

Internet Links

Union Romani

The BBC is not responsible for the content of external internet sites.

In this section

Violence greets Clinton visit
Russian forces pound Grozny
EU fraud: a billion dollar bill
Next steps for peace
Cardinal may face loan-shark charges
Vodafone takeover battle heats up (From Business)
Trans-Turkish pipeline deal signed
French party seeks new leader
Jube tube debut
Athens riots for Clinton visit
UN envoy discusses Chechnya in Moscow
Solana new Western European Union chief
Moldova's PM-designate withdraws
Chechen government welcomes summit
In pictures: Clinton's violent welcome
Georgia protests over Russian 'attack'
UN chief: No Chechen 'catastrophe'
New arms control treaty for Europe
Mannesmann fights back (From Business)
EU fraud -- a billion-dollar bill
New moves in Spain's terror scandal
EU allows labelling of British beef
UN seeks more security in Chechnya
Athens riots for Clinton visit
Russia's media war over Chechnya
Homeless suffer as quake toll rises
Analysis: East-West relations must shift