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Rescue teams scour Mediterranean for missing migrants after boat capsizes

Tunisian rescue teams scoured Mediterranean waters yesterday for up to 200 African migrants whose boat bound for Italy capsized in bad weather with at least 12 drowned.

The Tunisian coast guard assisted by local fishermen hauled 41 survivors, as well as 12 bodies, from the water soon after the accident on Friday morning.

Around 250 people from several African states were thought to have been onboard the boat.

"We picked up 41 survivors and recovered 12 bodies. Until this moment, we can report no change in the situation," Colonel Noureddine al Chibani, the director of national maritime borders, told reporters late on Friday.

It was the second boat tragedy in the Mediterranean this week. At least six illegal immigrants drowned off Italy at the weekend.

Illegal immigration to Italy has surged recently, with more than 1,000 people landing on the southern coastline over the last week and nearly 3,000 so far this month -- most of them from north and central Africa.

Tunisian officials said the capsized boat was part of a "wave" of several rickety boats spotted off Tunisia's coast sailing to Italy over recent days.

They said the boats were from a neighboring country, but declined to name it.

Diplomats said the boats came from Libya. Libyan leader Muammar Qaddafi has warned European leaders that African states will not stop illegal immigration unless Africa and the EU step up cooperation to spur investments and job opportunities to alleviate poverty on the continent.
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