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| Sunday, 24 February 2002 |
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Nearly 400 illegal immigrants intercepted off Sicilian coast ROME, Feb 23 (AFP) - A boat carrying nearly 400 Sri Lankan refugees was intercepted at dawn Saturday by coast guards off the coast of Sicily, Italian port authorities said. The 50 metre-long (165 feet) "Nikolai I" was in difficulties when it was boarded. The refugees were taken off in life rafts to the nearby port of Catania, where they were identified before being taken to a reception centre. The ship's four crew members, whose nationality is not known, were arrested. The vessel, in a poor state of repair, is believed to have left Sri Lanka on January 9 before crossing the Red Sea, travelling along the Suez Canal, and finally finishing its journey at the Sicilian port. It was the fourth wave of Sri Lankan immigrants to have arrived in Catania this year, representing a total of 620 people. More than 1,300 illegal immigrants have been sent home already this year, Interior Minister Claudio Scajola said earlier this week. |
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| Editorial | Security Produced by Lake House |
