Calais 'jungle' refugee camp cleared with tear gas, water cannons

An operation to clear 'the jungle' is underway.

Against a backdrop of burning huts, workersguarded by scores of French policebegan tearing downthe sprawling migrant camp known as "the jungle" on the outskirts of Calaison Monday.

Police used tear gasand water cannons to clear the hold-outs.

Reporters captured it onvideo.

The clash started when people threw stones and bits ofrubble.

French policequicklyformeda security cordon and the skirmish ended withthree arrests, authorities said.There were no reports of injuries.

With tensions running high,crews moved in.

Helmeted workers began to rip downthe makeshift shelters that have housed some 4,000 peopledreaming of a new life in western Europe.

Calais is less than 35kilometres from Dover, across the Channel.

Aflashpointon the French side of the English Channel, Calais's massive refugee campsprang up less than a year ago near a ferry terminal and theEurotunnelrail route to Britain.

• ANALYSIS:Children in Calais refugee 'jungle' risk falling through cracks

Several effortsto clear the camp have been carried out in the past, butthe dismantling of itsdense southern portion, where the present operation is underway,is the most aggressive operation to date.

Thousands of refugeesare affected by the evictions.

Humanitarian groups contend more than 3,000 peopleare affected.French authorities are relocating those displacedto purpose-built accommodation nearby or tocentres around France where they can decide whether to apply for asylum.

Many have resisted the move, fearing it will hurt their chances of reaching Britain, and migrant advocates say there isn't enough space in the new areas.