Updated with video at 4.05pm

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A group of 41 irregular immigrants, believed to be Syrians and Palestinians has been brought to Malta on an AFM patrol boat. The group includes two babies and eight children and eleven women.

All appeared to be in good health.

The migrants were rescued in a joint Maltese-Italian operation very early this morning.

The alert was raised by a Maltese-registered tug boat, the Hispania Uno in the Maltese rescue zone 89 miles south of Malta.

The tug boat and an Italian patrol boat gave assistance until the migrants were transferred to the Maltese patrol boat, which brought them to Malta, the nearest harbour. 

Meanwhile, the US Navy said today that two US destroyers have been requested by the Greek government to assist a migrants' boat located in the centre of the Mediterranean in waters controlled by Greece.

It is the first group to be brought to Malta since October 17 when 129 migrants were brought to Malta after their boat was spotted 70 miles south of Malta.

 

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