Moroccan troops, trying to prevent hundreds of Africans from crossing into the Spanish enclave of Melilla, killed six of them during clashes near the border on early Thursday, Communications Minister Nabil Benabdellah said.

Benabdellah, also government spokesman, told a news conference that some 400 migrants stormed surveillance posts in the Gourougou forest that overlooks Melilla and tried to cross the razor wire border fencing.

"Security forces were forced to respond in self-defense. Some 290 migrants were arrested and six among the assailants died," Benabdellah said.

It was the second time in a week that migrants were killed when trying to get into the Spanish enclaves of Ceuta and Melilla. A similar mass assault on the border fencing in Ceuta last week saw five immigrants killed.

In light of the mass rushes, Benabdellah said that Morocco is under great pressure and needs financial and technical support of Spain and the European Union (EU) at large to address the immigration issue.

Madrid announced Thursday it will send 70 of those who have entered the Spanish territory in recent days back to Morocco.

Spanish Deputy Prime Minister Maria Teresa Fernandez de la Vega said most of the 70 people, to leave by boat, were from Mali.

Spanish Prime Minister Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero blamed poverty and famine for the increase of illegal influx and said Madrid would ask EU leaders at their next summit to increase economic cooperation with Africa to reduce poverty and give more help to Morocco to combat illegal immigration.

He said nearly 1,000 Africans were waiting to enter the Spanish territory via Ceuta.

According to the Spanish police, some 10,000 people have tried to cross the border fencing since early this year.

Under Spanish law, illegal immigrants will be given at least 15 days to sue before repatriation once they manage to enter the Spanish territory.

The Spanish government said Tuesday it will place a third border checkpoint in Melilla to prevent the crossing of illegal aliens.

Source: Xinhua