Spain says police fired rubber bullets at migrants trying to swim to enclave

An immigrant holds a placard during a protest for the death of at least 9 immigrants in Spain's North African enclave of Ceuta a week ago while they were trying to enter Spain, in Madrid February 12, 2014. REUTERS/Juan Medina

MADRID (Reuters) - Spain said on Thursday border police had fired rubber bullets in an attempt to turn back around 200 migrants who tried to cross the frontier between Morocco and Spain's north African enclave Ceuta on February 6.

Several migrants from the group drowned in the Mediterranean trying to swim around a man-made breakwater that separates Moroccan and Spanish waters. The death toll rose to 12 on Thursday as Spanish police said they had found another body near the shore. They are still searching for victims.