16 Algerian Harraga Arrested near Italy

ALGER- Sixteen Algerian Harragas (candidates for illegal emigration) were "intercepted" on a boat after being "saved" Monday a few miles from Sardinia (Italy) by Algerian and Italian coastguards, announced an official source in Algiers.

•     The 16 Algerians themselves stranded on a homemade boat, were "intercepted and rescued," said the head of the Coastguard naval station in Annaba (600 km east of Algiers) Abdelaziz Zaidi.
  
      This group has been "saved from a real death" through the mechanism set up by the Algerian and Italian coastguards, according to Zaidi. The Algerian coastguards were alerted by the families of those candidates for illegal emigration, he added.
  
      The region of Annaba is the starting point of many candidates for illegal immigration because of its proximity to the Italian coast.
  
      Coastguard in Annaba formally arrested more than 250 candidates for illegal immigration since the beginning of 2009.
  
      
      
  Ennaharonline/ M. O.