More illegal immigrants rescued off Malta

The Armed Forces of Malta yesterday rescued another group of 43 illegal immigrants, including two women, who were stranded in a rubber dinghy some 58 nautical miles southwest of Malta.

The immigrants, of different nationalities, were due to land at Haywarf Base on board P-51 Protector-class patrol boat late last night.

In a separate operation last night, the AFM also recovered the corpse of an unidentified woman wearing a lifejacket and in an advanced state of decomposition. She was found in a small boat some 139 nautical miles southeast of Malta.

An AFM press release stated that all 43 immigrants, who claimed to be coming from Ghana, Ivory Costa, Somalia and Eritrea, were in good health.

On Wednesday, a total of 59 illegal immigrants were brought ashore in two groups after being rescued by the armed forces.

Meanwhile, two groups of about 300 illegal immigrants landed at Lampedusa on Wednesday night.