France raids Iraqi, Afghan asylum-seekers' camp

Riot police have raided a refugee camp in northern France, detaining nearly 300 asylum-seekers mostly from Afghanistan and Iraq during a dawn operation.

Hundreds of French riot police armed with flamethrowers, stun guns and tear gas moved in to raze a squalid Calais migrant camp, known as "the jungle", early Tuesday morning as part of a government plan to clear the area of illegal migrants.

Police say "the jungle" has become a haven for people-smuggling gangs and a no-go zone for locals.

Witnesses say there was one police officer for each migrant at the site and some jostling and scuffling between policemen.

Human rights activists rushed to the scene in an attempt to stop the raid.

"I think it's inhumane. They dragged people out of their tents. It isn't fair", an aid worker said.