A boat with 135 immigrants aboard was intercepted Monday morning some 500 meters off the southern Italian island of Lampedusa, local media reported. It is the fourth vessel to be seized by the Italian Coast Guard in a matter of hours, while the other three boats were carrying some 115 immigrants. The island of Lampedusa, which is very close to Tunisia, is a preferred landing place for most of the African immigrants.
Italy, with its lengthy coastlines and proximity to Africa, has long been a favorite destination for immigrants trying to enter the European Union.
Source: Xinhua
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