Former Albanian navy port to take in migrants sent on from Italy

An aerial view of Albania's northern port of Shengjin February 11, 2014. REUTERS/Arben Celi/File Photo

SHENGJIN, Albania (Reuters) - An Albanian port that was once home to the country's navy is set to receive African, Asian and Middle East migrants sent on from Italy as part of a deal that has drawn criticism from human rights groups.

The deal, expected to be ratified by Albania's parliament on Thursday, will allow Italy to build migrant-processing centres on the territory of the western Balkan nation, one of Europe's poorest and least developed.