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Spain in standoff with Malta over illegals

MADRID, July 19 (UPI) -- Spain and the island nation of Malta are in a standoff over 51 migrants picked up at sea near the Maltese coast, EFE news agency reported.

Malta is reportedly forbidding a Spanish ship carrying the migrants from docking, saying it cannot handle any more illegal entries into the small island nation.

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The U.N. refugee agency has directed Maltese authorities to allow the migrants to enter their country without delay.

Malta insists that the Eritreans abroad the Spanish ship are the responsibility of Spain or Libya.

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