Italy rescues Libyan refugeesApril 6, 2011 - 16:12 AMT PanARMENIAN.Net - Italian coast guards plucked 48 refugees from the Mediterranean on Wednesday, April 6, and spotted 15 bodies at sea after a boat laden with some 200 migrants from Libya capsized during the night. "We have rescued 48 people alive from the sea while 15 bodies have been spotted by the crew of the helicopter," said coast guard spokesman Vittorio Alessandro, based on the southern Italian island of Lampedusa. Around 130 people who were on the boat are believed to be missing. "We are still hoping. Our boats and helicopters have thrown all sorts of lifejackets and lifeboats to allow people to hold on," Alessandro said. Coast guards said in a statement that the boat was 13 meters long and had departed two days ago from the town of Zuwarah in western Libya. The statement said the people on the boat were mostly Eritreans and Somalis. Hundreds of African refugees from Libya - many of them migrant workers stranded after the start of an uprising against Libyan leader Moammar Gadhafi and the beginnings of a civil war - have landed in Italy in recent days, AFP reports. More than 20,000 migrants fleeing continuing unrest in Tunisia have also arrived on Lampedusa, sparking a humanitarian emergency. Migrants and refugees often travel in rickety and overcrowded fishing boats and there have already been smaller accidents at sea. The tiny island of Lampedusa is closer to North African shores than to mainland Italy and has become a gateway for illegal immigration into Europe. Top stories Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev arrived in Moscow on April 22 to hold talks with Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin. Authorities said a total of 192 Azerbaijani troops were killed and 511 were wounded during Azerbaijan’s offensive. In 2023, the Azerbaijani government will increase the country’s defense budget by more than 1.1 billion manats ($650 million). The bill, published on Monday, is designed to "eliminate the shortcomings of an unreasonably broad interpretation of the key concept of "compatriot". Partner news | Welcome to CaseKey 2024. Byblos Bank Armenia firmly stands by future innovators Strategic business cases, invaluable experience, innovative approaches and more than 25 events are in store for the participants of CaseKey 2024. Macron honors Charles Aznavour on 100th anniversary French President Emmanuel Macron has paid tribute to the memory of French-Armenian crooner Charles Aznavour. Blinken says U.S. reviewing a number of aid requests from Armenia He said the U.S. is reviewing the requests to determine what more it can do to increase its assistance to Armenia. At least 2 CSTO members participated in preparing 44-day war against Armenia – PM Nikol Pashinyan has declared that at least two CSTO member countries participated in preparations for the 44-day war against Armenia. |