SIXTEEN of the Ethiopian football squad who went missing in Italy on Tuesday after stopping over in Rome are seeking political asylum, authorities said yesterday.

"We have wanted to escape Ethiopia for a long time because there we are faced with political, religious and ethnic problems," said team striker and spokesman Mohammed Tinam from the Italian police headquarters in Rome.

The team, which arrived in Rome from Ethiopia on Monday, was set to fly off to Morocco early on Tuesday. However, no one checked in at the airport.

Sixteen left their suburban hotel with luggage and passports in the early hours and police announced that from Tuesday midnight they would be considered illegal immigrants.

The team walked to the centre of Rome on foot, where they contacted members of the Ethiopian community.

"We have been able to realise our dream in Italy because for once the officials accompanying us left us our passports," added Tinam.

In 1989, six players from the national team asked for political asylum, from Cairo, and 15 players also tried their luck in March 1991.