450 illegals intercepted

ROME – The Italian coastguard have intercepted 450 would-be immigrants off the southern island of Lampedusa, hospitalising two women needing urgent medical attention, the ANSA news agency reported yesterday.

The two women – one who had given birth two weeks earlier and the other who was haemorrhaging following an abortion – were flown to hospital in Sicily, the report said. They were among 24 people aboard a boat spotted by a police helicopter late on Sunday some 100km south of the Lampedusa.A second group of 230 people, including 42 women, were found crowded aboard a 15-metre wooden boat on yesterday, ANSA said.Lampedusa, some 300km north of the Libyan coast and 200km south of Sicily, is a frequent first port of call for people sneaking into Europe from Africa.The Italian interior ministry recorded a total of 10 414 arrivals in Lampedusa in the first seven months of 2006..Nampa-AFPThey were among 24 people aboard a boat spotted by a police helicopter late on Sunday some 100km south of the Lampedusa.A second group of 230 people, including 42 women, were found crowded aboard a 15-metre wooden boat on yesterday, ANSA said.Lampedusa, some 300km north of the Libyan coast and 200km south of Sicily, is a frequent first port of call for people sneaking into Europe from Africa.The Italian interior ministry recorded a total of 10 414 arrivals in Lampedusa in the first seven months of 2006..Nampa-AFP