Four Arab men were yesterday afternoon rescued from a drifting speedboat some 45 nautical miles (NM) from Malta, the AFM said today.

The Rescue Coordination Centre said it was alerted by Rome rescue centre that the four men were in distress and required assistance.

As the AFM's Air Wing dispatched an aircraft to the reported area, the Greek motor tanker "Olympic Spirit" sighted the four persons at sea, but was unable to take them onboard because of sea conditions prevailing at the time.

By noon, the AFM Air Wing's aircraft had sighted the four persons in an 18-foot speedboat . A Maltese fishing-boat nearby, the "Madonna tal- Isperanza" was directed to their location to render assistance.

One of the men on board was found in a semi-conscious state. The men alleged they had been out at sea for five days in a bid to reach the Italian island of Lampedusa, but their fuel had run out.

The individuals claimed to be Palestinian but lacked documents to support this. One of the men was flown to hospital by helicopter while the others were brought to Malta by patrol boat P52 late in the evening.