Sangatte to close at end of December

Updated: 21:10, Monday, 2 December 2002

The British and French authorities have confirmed that the Sangatte asylum camp is to close on 30 December.

Sangatte camp  To close at the end of the month Sangatte camp To close at the end of the month

The British Home Secretary and French interior minister Nicolas Sarkozy have confirmed that the Sangatte asylum camp is to close on 30 December.

David Blunkett and Mr Sarkozy made the announcement today, after working out a deal concerning the controversial camp in northern France.

As part of the deal, the Britain has agreed to take in 1,000 Kurds and some refugees from Afghanistan, while France will take the remainder of the refugees at the camp.

The camp had been a source of tension between the two countries, and had previously been earmarked to close before April 2003.

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