Senegal Refuses to Allow Deportation Flight to Land

Sengalese officials refused yesterday to accept aircraft carrying some of the thousands of west African migrants who reached the Canary Islands and whom Spain was trying to deport.

Spanish officials said the attempt to deport 100 migrants had failed because of technical problems at the airport in Saint Louis, Senegal, where the aircraft was due to land. They said a second attempt would be made.

Senegal suspended repatriation flights in May after returnees said Spain handcuffed them during the flight, something which Spanish police denied.