PAPHOS, Greek Cypriot administration
Syrian refugees rescued near south-western Cyprus on Thursday finally disembarked from a cruise liner after demanding to go to Italy.
Nearly 350 rescued Syrians were said to have initially refused to disembark from the liner.
On Friday, after 65 had willingly disembarked and were taken to the Kokkinotrimithia camp in Greek Cyprus late on Thursday, the remaining refugees left the ship, the AFP news agency reported.
Kikis Vassiliou, managing director of Salamis Cruise Lines, told the agency the refugees had wanted to negotiate passage to Italy.
Thousands of migrants cross the Mediterranean Sea each year in an effort to flee violence-torn areas of the Middle East and North Africa.
More than 2,500 people have drowned or been reported missing as they attempted to cross the Mediterranean this year, according to the UN's refugee agency.
Earlier this month nearly 500 drowned when their ship was deliberately sunk off Malta.
www.aa.com.tr/en
