Chechen Refugees Detained On Polish-German Border

A Chechen refugee in a camp in the Russian republic of Ingushetia (file photo) (AFP) 16 January 2006 -- Polish border guards have detained 13 Chechens who tried today to enter Germany illegally in a truck carrying pastries.

The Polish driver of the lorry was arrested and faces up to three years in jail.

A spokesman for border guards in Poland's western Krosno Odrzanskie region, Mariusz Skrzynski, said all the Chechens -- six women, six children and a man -- had asked for refugee status when they first arrived in Poland, on 2 January.

Authorities said the 13 people will be returned to a refugee center, where their asylum application will be examined.

(AFP)