Ceuta migrants moved from beaches to port tents

Police began moving hundreds of migrants from beaches in Ceuta to a tented site in the Spanish enclave's port area on Friday, after weeks in which many had been sleeping rough.

Police struggled to contain crowds of people jostling to secure a place at the new site during the transfer. A Spanish government source in Ceuta said police started rounding up migrants at 6:30 am.

Authorities said there were enough tents for 1,700 people. The government source said the port site had showers and beds.

Ceuta has been at the centre of a migrant crisis since late July, when tens of thousands of people crossed the border from Morocco. Most quickly returned, but several thousand remained in the Spanish North African territory.

Ceuta authorities estimate that 13,000 migrants remain in the 18.5-square-kilometre territory. Spain's central government says the number is lower.

The Spanish government went ahead with the transfer despite opposition from the conservative local authority. Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez has faced criticism over the handling of the crisis and is also in dispute with Italy, which temporarily reimposed border controls.