Rescuers search for 14 migrants missing off Spain

Coastguards and police searched for 14 immigrants missing since their boat capsized off southern Spain yesterday, a regional official said.

A spokesman for the regional government in Granada said a tug had been out all night looking for the immigrants and two aircraft joined the search at dawn.

Yesterday, coastguards rescued 23 Nigerians from the small boat that capsized in the Mediterranean 75 miles off Motril, battered by heavy seas.

Survivors said a total of 37 people had originally put to sea, leaving 14 missing.

Thousands of Africans are believed to have died in recent years trying to reach Spain by sea in search of jobs.

The arrival of tens of thousands of Africans in the Canary Islands prompted Spain's Socialist government to toughen its policies on illegal immigrants, who face repatriation.

After initial opposition, Spain has said it is satisfied with changes to French proposals for a common European Union migration policy.