Suit: Detention center is a 'flash point'

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ATHENS, Greece, April 30 (UPI) -- Critics of a migrant detention center, opened a week before elections in Greece, filed suit, calling it a pre-election "flash point" meant to fool the public.

Greek Prime Minister Lucas Papademos was notified of the lawsuit filed against police, along with Citizens' Protection Minister Michalis Chrysochoidis, by the city of Amygdaleza's deputy mayor Chrysanthos Kontaris.

The camp, which opened Sunday, and was erected originally to house people displaced by natural disasters, ekathimerini reported.

Police began moving undocumented immigrants -- mostly from Turkey -- into the compound Sunday, while Amygdaleza residents demonstrated against the center, which is adjacent to a police training academy.

Illegal immigration has become a hot-button issue and many residents and local rights activists are critical of the compound being used for other than its intended purpose calling it a "pre-election firework."

"The city is already beset by crime and drugs. But he [Chrysochoidis] chose to turn a blind eye," said a statement issued by the Acharnes municipality Monday.

"[Chrysochoidis] is simply creating another flash point. He is trying to fool the Greek people … deteriorating an area that is already depressed," the statement said.

Chrysochoidis said about 1,200 immigrants will be moved into the detention center until the middle of May, at which time they will be moved to other compounds.

The minister said that will solve the country's illegal immigration problem, ekathimerini reported.