Greek police raid illegal immigrant camp

ATHENS, 12 July (Reuters) - Greek police raided an illegal immigrants' camp in the port city of Patras on Sunday, moving out 150 people and levelling shacks with bulldozers.

Hundreds of immigrants, mostly Afghans, had lived in squalid conditions at the camp for years, prompting protests from residents. "We evacuated the camp," Thanassis Davlouros, chief of the Patras Police, told Reuters.

"We moved about 110 immigrants to Patras hotels and other camps in Athens and 40 minors to a special centre in northern Greece. The immigrants were mainly Afghans", Davlouros said. It was not immediately clear what would happen to them next.

Around 80 police officers took part in the operation.

Police said that during the operation a fire broke out and burned the camp down, but no one was injured. Two immigrants were arrested for arson.

Immigrants, mainly from Asia, use the Patras port to pass to Italy and other European countries. Greece, is often criticised by international organisations and rights groups for its treatment of illegal migrants, including poor conditions in detention centres.

The conservative Greek government said this month it would get tougher on illegal immigration. It said that it had arrested about 47,000 immigrants who came from Turkey last year.

Greek Prime Minister Costas Karamanlis will visit Spain and Italy next week to discuss among other issues the illegal immigration problem.

(Reporting by Lefteris Papadimas)