Second batch of deported migrants land in Turkey

A group of 45 Pakistani migrants arrived in the Turkish coastal town of Dikili on April 8 after being expelled from Greece under a Turkey-EU deal to halt mass migration to Europe, a local official said.

"The migrants are busy getting off the boat for identity and health checks," the official told AFP on condition of anonymity.

"The Greek side has informed us that there will be three more boats today."

The migrants will be taken by bus to reception centers in the northwestern province of K?rklareli on the Bulgarian border, where they are expected to eventually be deported back to their home country.

A further 79 people were being placed on a second boat on Lesbos by officers from the European Union's border protection agency, to be deported later on April 8, the Associated Press reported.

The group is part of the second batch of migrants to be sent back under the deal, which came into force on April 4, when 202 people were deported to Turkey.

After getting off the ground, the rapidly drawn up deal between EU and Turkey quickly ran into trouble as migrants on the Greek islands launched a flurry of requests for asylum which legally prevents them from being deported.

Some 30 protesters also gathered at Lesbos' port, chanting "Stop deportations", "EU, shame on you" and "Freedom for the refugees."

This led to several days of delays between deportations.

The Greek government said those expelled had not requested asylum.

Before the first boat left the Lesbos, four activists jumped into the sea to try to obstruct the operation - swimming to the front of the chartered ferry and grabbing the anchor chain - and were detained by the coast guard, the Associated Press reported.

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