To be housed on board a barge in dorset are expected to arrive later today. The use of the bibby stockholm to house up to 500 people had been delayed by safety concerns. Ministers insist the vessel will help reduce the cost of placing migrants in hotels. Jonathan blake reports. Floating accommodation for migrants seeking asylum in the uk. The Bibby Stockholm Barge has been moored at portland in dorset for nearly three weeks, but stands empty. Safety concerns have delayed getting people on board but its now expected the first 50 or so men to be housed on the barge will move in very soon. We expect it to be in the coming days, so you wont have long to wait. And this is an important step forwards. Up to 500 people could be accommodated here. The barge has medical facilities and a recreation area. Its one way the government hopes to cut the cost of hotels for those attempting to claim asylum, the bill currently running at about £6 million per day. But its prompted protests from local resi
Hello, iam none hello, i am none to thanks for joining us on bbc news. First to niger where, in the last two hours, a deadline for the militaryjunta to step down has passed. The leaders of nigers coup have hours to restore the ousted president , or face the possibility of Military Action. Thousands of people gathered in nigers capital to support the militaryjunta as that deadline expired. Despite International Condemnation of the soldiers actions, thousands of nigeriens continue to show support for the army 7 hoping it can offer the country stability. Some neighbouring countries including mali, burkina faso and guinea have voiced support for the coup leaders. And algeria, which Borders Niger to the north, has said it is categorically against armed intervention. France says it will support efforts by ecowas to restore nigers elected president. Niger s Prime Minister was in paris on saturday 7 meeting lawmakers and greeting protestors outside the countrys embassy. He has dismissed pro co
We begin in niger, where the Breaking News in the last half an hour is the military leaders who staged a coup say they have closed the countrys airspace over what they called the threat of intervention against them. The announcement came as a deadline expired for them to restore the ousted president or face the possible action from the west African Regional grouping known as ecowas. Earlier thousands of people gathered in nigers capital to support the militaryjunta, despite International Condemnation of the soldiers actions. Some neighbouring countries including mali, burkina faso and guinea have voiced support for the coup leaders. And algeria, which Borders Niger to the north, has said it is categorically against armed intervention. France says it will support efforts by ecowas to restore nigers elected president. Nigers Prime Minister was in paris on saturday, meeting lawmakers and greeting protestors outside the countrys embassy. He has dismissed that pro coup protests are taking p