Cyprus On Refugees

EU member Cyprus said Monday it was willing to take in up to 300 refugees to help ease the crisis facing the European Union but preferred them to be Christians.

Rescuers in Cyprus on Sunday saved more than 100 refugees fleeing the war in Syria after their boat ran into trouble overnight off the Mediterranean island, authorities said.

Some paid as much as $8,000 (6,400 euros) each to hitch a ride on an unseaworthy trawler local smugglers claimed would make the treacherous voyage to Italy, and asylum in Europe.

Hundreds of mostly Syrian refugees rescued by a cruise liner in the Mediterranean disembarked in Cyprus on Friday, after hours of refusing to budge and demanding to go to Italy.

EU member Cyprus said Monday it was willing to take in up to 300 refugees to help ease the crisis facing the European Union but preferred them to be Christians.

Rescuers in Cyprus on Sunday saved more than 100 refugees fleeing the war in Syria after their boat ran into trouble overnight off the Mediterranean island, authorities said.

Some paid as much as $8,000 (6,400 euros) each to hitch a ride on an unseaworthy trawler local smugglers claimed would make the treacherous voyage to Italy, and asylum in Europe.

Hundreds of mostly Syrian refugees rescued by a cruise liner in the Mediterranean disembarked in Cyprus on Friday, after hours of refusing to budge and demanding to go to Italy.