Asylum figures decline in June
The number of asylum applications dropped by about a quarter in June to reach the level it had at the beginning of the year.
The Federal Migration Office said the total number of requests fell from 2,245 in May to 1,675 last month.
The biggest decrease, more than 50 per cent, was recorded among asylum seekers from Eritrea while applications from Tunisians slumped by 17 per cent.
Nationals from Tunisia, Eritrea and Nigeria make up the biggest groups.
More than 38,000 people are currently waiting to hear whether they can stay in Switzerland – four per cent up on June 2010.
The federal and cantonal authorities have been at loggerheads over a speedy procedure and the temporary housing of asylum applicants.
Rightwing political parties have warned that the upheaval in North Africa will lead to a massive increase in the number of requests for asylum.
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