France to begin moving migrant minors from Calais on Wednesday

A riot policemen patrols close to where some 1,500 migrant minors are being housed temporarily in converted shipping containers in Calais, France, November 1, 2016.[Photo/Agencies]

French authorities will on Wednesday begin transferring about 1,500 unaccompanied migrant minors to reception centers across the country, officials said on Tuesday, as a standoff with Britain over who takes care of the youths drags on.

The minors have been housed temporarily in converted shipping containers in Calais.

Demolition teams finished tearing down unoccupied shacks and tents in the northern seaside town on Monday after last week's evacuation of thousands of migrants from the "Jungle" camp where more than 6,000 people were living, most in the hope of making it across the Channel to Britain.

Tensions between London and Paris have mounted in recent days after President Francois Hollande urged British Prime Minister Theresa May to accept Britain's share of responsibility for the minors.

Britain is obliged under EU rules to take in minors with verified family ties.

"The minors will be taken by bus to reception centers for minors across France throughout the day," said Stephane Duval, who heads a state-run shelter built with shipping containers within the camp. "There will be no departures to Britain for now. Their applications will be studied at a later stage."