AN ITALIAN navy ship docked at the Albanian port of Shengjin today with eight refugees who will be processed there after being intercepted in international waters.

It was only the second transfer of refugees to Albania since two processing centres began operating in October, when the same Italian ship transferred the first 16 from Bangladesh and Egypt. Four were taken to Italy the same day because they were minors or had health problems. 

Twelve others were brought back to Italy three days later, following a ruling by Rome judges who rejected their detention because their countries of origin — Bangladesh and Egypt — were not safe enough for them to be sent back to.