Italy intercepts 600 immigrants

More than 600 illegal immigrants heading to Italy on rickety boats have been intercepted over the last 24 hours and brought to land, officials said yesterday.

Summer often brings waves of African and Middle Eastern immigrants into Italy as warm weather and calmer seas prompt migrants to try to reach wealthy Europe.

A ship carrying 223 people on board was discovered off the coast of Sicily while two more boats were picked up near Lampedusa, a small Mediterranean island between Sicily and Tunisia, the coast guard said.

On Thursday, 178 clandestine migrants disembarked in Sicily. Last month, a boat heading for Italy sank off the coast of Libya and at least 14 African migrants drowned.

European Union justice and interior ministers announced yesterday that the EU would work with Libya to try to stop illegal migrants using the North African country as a stepping stone to Europe.