The Armed Forces of Malta rescued 43 boat people on Sunday after their boat ran out of fuel and the helmsman lost his bearing.

The immigrants - 41 men and two women - claim to be coming from Sudan, Liberia, Chad, Nigeria and Palestine.

The AFM said in a statement that their coordination centre was informed by Malta Radio that the Maltese fishing boat Ta' Pinu had sighted a 25-foot boat with passengers on board some 35 nautical miles south of Malta.

Patrol boat P51 was deployed to meet the vessel to assist as necessary.

P51 took all persons on board and towed the boat towards Haywharf, where they were handed over to the police and health authorities.

All immigrants are being accommodated at the Safi barracks.

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