Dozens of migrants disrupt Chunnel traffic

Around 150 migrants attempted to board a Britain-bound train on Friday from the French port city of Calais, temporarily blocking the traffic and disrupting both freight and passenger services, according to the Eurotunnel operator.

It is the latest incident in a series of confrontations between the French authorities and some 3,000 migrants who have camped around the northern city in the hope of reaching the United Kingdom.

"At around 7 p.m. (1800 GMT) on Friday, there were migrants all around the perimeter trying to break through the fences," a Eurotunnel spokesman told Reuters news agency on Saturday. "There was a lot of disruption."

But Eurostar, which operates passenger trains through the tunnel, said its services were not affected.

Migrants at Calais have been trying to take advantage of strikes by port workers that have crippled ferry crossings. Most of these migrants want to go to the UK because they speak English and believe they have a better chance of getting a job there.

The tunnel operator has urged the authorities to resolve the overall migrant issue so that such incidents shouldn't take place.

People fleeing war and poverty in North Africa and the Middle East are seeking refuge in European countries. A record number of 60 million people fled their homes in the conflict zones last year, according to the United Nations.

On Thursday, France and Britain agreed to increase security at the port and the English Channel.

shs/sms (Reuters, AP)