Tunisia thwarts illegal emigration attempt from Libya

Tunisian coastguards thwarted on Monday an illegal emigration attempt from Libya involving 156 people mostly from Africa, Shems FM reported.

Tuesday, September 11, 2012

Tunisian coastguards thwarted on Monday an illegal emigration attempt from Libya involving 156 people mostly from Africa, Shems FM reported.The boat which set off from a Libyan port was intercepted by Tunisian naval units in the country’s territorial waters off the governorate of Medenine in southern Tunisia, as it was heading for Italy.The vessel which was later towed to the port of Djerba carried a majority of African nationals mainly from Mali, Senegal, Guinea and Eritrea. 36 women were reported to be onboard, Shems FM said.A probe was opened to determine the circumstances of the incident.The interception came days after a Tunisian fishing boat carrying between 100 and 130 illegal immigrants capsized off the Italian island of Lampedusa causing the death of at least 2 people, while some 70 people are still unaccounted for. And 56 emigrants were rescued.