Francuska: Uhićeno 150 migranata

STORY:

There was an angry reaction as police moved into a migrant camp near the French port of Calais.

150 people were arrested.

Sylvie Coppens is from SALAM - an association which cares for them.

(SOUNDBITE) (French) SYLVIE COPPENS, MEMBER OF THE 'SALAM' ASSOCIATION CARING FOR MIGRANTS, SAYING:

"Of course we are angry and of course we will continue to fight, the French government can do whatever it wants, the migrants will always be here, 35 kilometres away from England."

The migrants are mainly men from Iraq, Afghanistan and Eritrea.

They live in what's known locally as the jungle, hoping for a chance to board a truck across the English Channel.

(SOUNDBITE) (English) SAID ASHMI, AFGHAN MIGRANT, SAYING:

"We want to get out from this country, we want to go to England, everybody wants to go to England"

The jungle sprang up after a Red Cross shelter in the area was closed in 2002.

Another member of SALAM condemned the police operation.

(SOUNDBITE) (French) JEAN-CLAUDE LENOIR, SAYING:

"It's a scandal. Our migrant friends want peace, they want to go to England and they certainly don't want people to trouble them. I think the police authorities have proved their incompetence once again, with a provocative attitude."

But one local government official defended the three-hour operation.

(SOUNDBITE) (French) PIERRE DE BOUSQUET DE FLORIAN, LOCAL GOVERNMENT OFFICIAL, SAYING:

"This has resulted in 150 arrests of young men who we hope will give us information and allow the Justices to get to the networks and traffickers."

France's Immigration Minister also said people traffickers were the real target.

He's expected to visit Calais later this week.

Sonia Legg, Reuters.