Greek coastguard rescues 1,000 immigrants from crippled ship

A Greek coastguard vessel has rescued 1,000 illegal immigrants who were adrift on a ship which suffered mechanical failure off an island in the Ionian Sea.

The 165ft ship was found drifting 30 miles south-west of Zakynthos after a fire stopped the vessel’s engine.

The coastguard was called to tow the vessel to safety because of gale force winds sweeping the Ionian Sea.

The nationalities of those on board are unknown, but over the past few weeks, hundreds of mainly Muslim immigrants have been detained after they crossed the Aegean Sea from Turkey to Greece.

Authorities also fear they could be faced with a fresh wave of Afghan refugees because of the daily American attacks on their homeland.