Bodies of 'immigrants' wash up on Sicilian beach

The bodies of 12 suspected illegal immigrants were found washed up on the shore of southern Sicily early today and at least 100 other migrants were rescued from their boat nearby, state radio reported.

One of the survivors called police from a mobile phone to alert them to the dead migrants who were washed up on the beach at Gela, the ANSA news agency reported. Among the dead were teenagers, ANSA said.

The would-be immigrants were believed to be Eritrean, and many of the survivors were taken to hospital, Sergeant Massimo Maccheroni told state-run RAI radio.

Thousands of would-be immigrants head for Italy from the North African coast each year in ill-equipped boats, many hoping to join more established immigrant communities in countries further north such as France, Germany and Britain.