21 illegal immigrants were rescued by the Armed Forces of Malta (AFM) on Wednesday. The illegal immigrants, claiming to be from Somalia, where brought ashore at Haywharf after being rescued by a P51 Protector Class off a 4 meter boat.
The illegal immigrants were reported to have encountered difficulties at sea by a merchant vessel.
Some reports say that two of the illegal immigrants required medical treatment at St. Luke’s Hospital.
The irregular migrants were conveyed to the AFM Maritime Squadron base in Haywharf at 1300 CEST and were all reported to be in good health. The Police are investigating the case.
In turn, Italy and Libya reached a preliminary agreement to control illegal immigration influxes, with Tripoli agreeing help Italian police halt illegal migrant efforts to reach Italy through Libya. According to adnkronosinternational a high official is expected to visit Italy in this regard in the upcoming days. Tripoli also agreed to host Italian investigators who will take part in Libya's coast patrols.
Last week, Libya refused European patrol of Libyan territorial waters, proposed by European Commissioner for Justice and Security Franco Frattini. Furthermore, Libya's European Affairs Minister Abdulati Alobidi expressed criticism over Europe’s plans to stem illegal immigration, saying that hat Europe should stop criticizing Libya for being a jump-off point for illegal immigrants and help it patrol its land borders to stem the traffic.
The Minister also stated that the decision to launch Frontex sea patrol in the Mediterranean south of Italy later this month without consulting Libya was "unacceptable". These Frontex patrols are due to being in the Southern Mediterranean this month.
Alobidi had also said that Libya has 4,000 km (2,500 miles) of land borders and needs help from Europe to stop the flow of migrants from poverty stricken countries south of the Sahara desert. Every year, tens of thousands of migrants risk their lives crossing the sea from Libya, often in small fishing boats or rubber dinghies, trying to enter the EU via the Italian island of Lampedusa, mainland Sicily or Malta. This summer scored of illegal immigrants lost their lives in the Mediterranean while traveling towards Europe from Libya.
See also:
Libya critical of EU plans to curb illegal immigration
By MaltaMedia News
Sep 7, 2006, 07:44 CET
Plan for joint sea patrols laid down
By MaltaMedia News
Aug 30, 2006, 10:58 CET
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