British police Wednesday released five people who were arrested on suspicion of manslaughter of 19 cockle pickers who died in fast-rising tides in a northwestern England bay Thursday night.  

Two women were set free on police bail, while three men were released but then handed over into the custody of British immigration services, a Lancashire police spokesman said.

The five has been originally on the list of the 16 survivors including two white Europeans and 14 Asians.

One day earlier, a British businessman, David Eden and his son, who voluntarily handed themselves into police, were released on bail but due to reappear before police on April 12.

British Prime Minister Tony Blair expressed his sorrow earlier Wednesday at the deaths, voicing his support for tougher laws to stop the exploitation of migrant workers.

"I think that the whole House (of Commons) would want to express its sorrow at what has happened at this terrible tragedy and our deep sympathy for the victims of it and their families," Blair told the House of Commons, the lower part of the parliament.     

Meanwhile, he said the case illustrated reasons for introducing compulsory identity cards in Britain.

"A criminal investigation is underway and it would be inappropriate therefore to comment at this stage of the investigation but there is no doubt that there are a number of issues that arise out of this," Blair said.

(Xinhua News Agency February 12, 2004)