Sunday, 22nd November 2009 - 11:32CET

Updated: Libya rescues migrants

Libyan rescue services have rescued around 80 illegal immigrants who were in distress on the high seas, just 60 miles from Lampedusa.

Italian news media reports that the migrants, who had entered the Maltese Search-and-Rescue Region of Responsibility (SRR), launched their distress calls via a satellite phone to contacts in Italy and Malta.

It could not be ascertained if the migrants were onboard a rubber dinghy or a wooden fishing vessel. They claimed to be Eritrean. The Italian rescue authorities of Messina and Palermo coordinated the operation with the Libyan authorities, and maintained contact with the Armed Forces of Malta's Rescue Co-ordination Centre.

No Italian or Maltese naval or rescue assets are understood to have been involved in the operation.

A group of some 200 Eritreans were escorted to Capo Passero, Sicily, yesterday.

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Article © Allied Newspapers Ltd., printed on Tuesday, February 9, 2010. This article is for personal use only, and should not be distributed.

Comments

J Farrugia (on 23/11/09)

Norman Grech - compensating Libya for WHAT? for just doing its duty and not sending ilelgal immigrants to Europe, thus islamising all Europe. Or to die in the Med sea? Is this what you want the EU to compensate libya for? to send more boats to us? Put your house in order first before you even start to speak.

lino Debono (on 22/11/09)

Border Crossing:

Let me see if you understand all this...

IF YOU CROSS THE NORTH KOREAN BORDER ILLEGALLY YOU GET 12 YEARS HARD LABOUR.
IF YOU CROSS THE IRANIAN BORDER ILLEGALLY YOU ARE DETAINED INDEFINITELY.
IF YOU CROSS THE AFGHAN BORDER ILLEGALLY, YOU GET SHOT.
IF YOU CROSS THE SAUDI ARABIAN BORDER ILLEGALLY YOU WILL BE JAILED.
IF YOU CROSS THE CHINESE BORDER ILLEGALLY YOU MAY NEVER BE HEARD FROM AGAIN.
IF YOU CROSS THE VENEZUELAN BORDER ILLEGALLY YOU WILL BE BRANDED A SPY AND YOUR FATE WILL BE SEALED.
IF YOU CROSS THE CUBAN BORDER ILLEGALLY YOU WILL BE THROWN INTO POLITICAL PRISON TO ROT.
BUT IF YOU enter Malta ILLEGALLY YOU GET A JOB, A DRIVERS LICENCE, SOCIAL SECURITY CARD, WELFARE, FOOD STAMPS, CREDIT CARDS, SUBSIDIZED RENT OR A LOAN TO BUY A HOUSE, FREE EDUCATION, FREE HEALTH CARE, A LOBBYIST IN VALLETTA AND IN MANY INSTANCES YOU CAN VOTE.

norman grech (on 22/11/09)

One solution out of this mess is, that when a boat carrying illegal immigrants crossing over from Libya and need any rescue, the Libyans can be called in to save them. In turn these poor humans are taken back to Libya. For this Libya should be fairly compensated by the EU. This would be a clear message to these poor people that once caught or in distress at sea, one is sent back from the point of origin.This will make them realise there is no point in take such dangerous trip across the mediterrian seas.

Kenneth Galea (on 22/11/09)

@David Portelli
You are too right. Unnecessary seminars and trips back and forth to Brussels and NOTHING gets resolved. We know that the majority of these illegals are looking for a better life and that is the reason why the recipient countries do NOT want them. It is illegal to come via the back door because one fancies a better life (drain on our welfare system). However I put the blame on the EU and the UNHCR which are encouraging the illegals to invade Europe with the human rights debacle always jumping and down in the news!!!

David portelli (on 22/11/09)

When our Government is gonna take a position on this issue.Why are they just having coffee brakes and seminars in Brussels without any real conclusions.Now everyone knows The Burden Sharing is just the joke of the year,the maltese people are not foolssss.

Phil Press (on 22/11/09)

" Expected to be". Will wait with baited breath, to see. More for Malta me thinks.

Updated: Libya rescues migrants

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