Syria refugees protest in France, seek to go to Britain

About 60 Syrian refugees, of whom 40 are on a hunger strike, have occupied a key point in the northern French port of Calais and vowed to stay put until they are sent to Britain.

On the second day of the protest and hunger strike on Thursday, the asylum seekers put up slogans scribbled on cardboard proclaiming: "Take us to the UK," and "We want to talk to David Cameron."

They occupied a footbridge of a ferry terminal at Calais port from which ships leave for British ports.

Many voiced disenchantment with France, which recently pledged to speed up asylum requests for Syrian refugees.

Most of them arrived a month ago in Calais.

"We thought that France was the country where human rights are respected," said Tarik, a 19-year-old from the southern city of Deraa near the border with Jordan.

"But we live outside like dogs, hunted down by the police, we see we are not welcome, how can we seek asylum here?" he said.

The former engineering student said he was convinced he would find "more humanity" in Britain and eventually bring over his mother and younger brothers currently living in Egypt.