AFM rescue illegal immigrants and search for two more boats

The Armed Forces of Malta yesterday rescued 18 migrants from a boat some 60 miles to the south of the island.

The AFM said the boat was stationary after having run out of fuel.

The 16 males and two females on board were picked by AFM patrol boat P51 in the afternoon.

Last night a search and rescue operation using the AFM's Islander aircraft was going on for another two boats carrying more migrants.

The search was centred in an area off the south coast, and AFM sources said the boats were thought to be some 30 miles apart. The AFM were alerted to the three boats in distress by Rome's maritime rescue coordination centre.

The rescued immigrants were due to be brought ashore late last night. They will join another 100 people who have arrived in Malta illegally and are being kept in detention centres. Since 2001, 2,284 immigrants arrived illegally in Malta, with the greatest number, 1,686, landing in 2002, causing something of an accommodation crisis.

Since January 2002, 77 people were recognised as refugees while 563 were granted humanitarian protection. Another 519 have had their applications refused, 36 withdrew theirs and 76 are still being processed.