Thursday, June 07, 2007
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Valletta (Reuters) - Malta's armed forces said on Thursday they had landed 27 illegal migrants recovered by a Greek oil tanker.The migrants were found packed in an open boat about 110 km south of Malta late on Wednesday night and transferred to a Maltese patrol boat on Thursday.
The migrants, all men, said they were from Somalia and the Ivory Coast.
The Mediterranean island has been receiving boatloads of migrants almost daily but has also caused controversy by refusing to receive migrants rescued by vessels outside its search and rescue area.
Last week, 27 shipwrecked Africans spent three days clinging to tuna nets in the Mediterranean while Malta and Libya argued over who should rescue them. They were eventually picked up by the Italian navy.
Thousands are believed to die each year attempting perilous sea crossings to Europe.
Officials in Malta deny they have ever left migrants at sea in distress.
Source: Reuters, June 07, 2007