Migrants rescued off Malta coast
BBC News, 29 December 2008
Malta said the migrants had no food or water on board the boat
About 140 migrants have been rescued from a boat drifting in rough seas off the Maltese coast.
The passengers, including 10 pregnant women, were believed to be on their way to the Italian island of Lampedusa when their boat reportedly ran out of fuel.
The rescue by the Maltese navy comes at amid growing tension between Italy and Libya over illegal migration.
Over the weekend, there was a dramatic increase in the numbers reaching the Italian territory from Libya.
Maltese Navy Lieutenant Claudio Signanini said the people on board had no water, food or fuel.
The boat's distress call was picked up by the Italian coastguard in Sicily but the Maltese authorities coordinated the rescue as the boat was closer to Malta, said Mr Signanini.
Italian officials say there has been a sharp rise in the number of illegal migrants coming from Africa this year.
Last Friday alone, about 1,500 people arrived on Lampedusa, followed by a further 819 on Sunday.
The authorities say the island's migrant detention centre, built to house 850 people, is under severe pressure.
Fleeing war
The Italian interior ministry says more than 24,000 migrants arrived in Italy from January to September, compared to about 14,000 in the same period in 2007.
People smugglers charge them about $1,000 (£685; 710 euros) each to make the often stormy crossing in barely-seaworthy vessels, says the BBC's Duncan Kennedy in Rome.
Many would-be migrants are fleeing wars or poverty and risk the dangerous Mediterranean crossing to enter Europe from Libya, says our correspondent.
Italy and Libya agreed earlier this year to step up naval patrols to try to reduce the flow of migrants.
Italy also offered to help Libya improve security on its southern desert frontier.
© MMVIII
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