evidence: Coils of razor blades top some of the fences that surround the two autonomous towns, which as territories of Spain form the only direct land borders between Europe and Africa. Migrants trying to reach European shores frequently try to scale the six-metre barriers, risking serious injury. [...] Madrid asserts that both territories are integral parts of Spain and have the same status as the semi-autonomous districts on its mainland, such as the Basque and Catalan regions. [...] Spanish King Juan Carlos angered Moroccans by visiting Melilla in 2007. The infuriated then-Moroccan prime minister Abbas El Fassi said: "We would like to remind everyone that the two cities form an integral part of Moroccan soil and their return to their homeland will be sought through direct negotiations with our neighbour Spain."