Last night, a group of 39 people, believed to be from Eritrea, were being towed to shore on a dinghy by an Armed Forces of Malta patrol boat after one of them made a distress call using a satellite phone.

The immigrants included three women and two children. They were found 65 miles off the south coast of Malta.

On Thursday, AFM personnel escorted a ship carrying 28 illegal immigrants into harbour.

An AFM spokesman said an unidentified vessel was spotted on radar cruising some 25 miles off the coast on Thursday afternoon.

The ship was escorted to Malta by AFM patrol boats and was found to be carrying 28 illegal immigrants from Somalia.

The police were called in and the Somalis were given a medical check and first aid where necessary.

All were found to be in good health and were taken to the AFM barracks in Safi where they are being kept. The group consists of 25 men and three women.