Italy coastguard detains 350 illegal immigrants 

ROME, Aug 27 (Reuters) - Italy's coastguard said on Monday it had taken into custody
more than 350 illegal immigrants who had landed on the southern tip of the country in a
fishing boat from Turkey.

Coastguard officials in the southern port of Crotone said the 25-metre (75-foot)
Turkish-registered boat was intercepted late on Sunday. They said the vessel left Turkey on
August 22 carrying 354 immigrants, mostly Kurds but also immigrants from Afghanistan,
Pakistan and Sri Lanka.

The boat's 11 crew, all Turks, were arrested and charged with smuggling immigrants,
coastguard officials said.

Thousands of illegal immigrants land on Italy's shores every month, mostly from Eastern
Europe, North Africa and Asia, paying anywhere from $2,500 to $10,000 for their passage.

Most do not stay in Italy, preferring to make their way to Britain, France or Germany to find
work.

Those detained by Italy's coastguard are taken to "welcome centres" where their status is
decided on a case-by-case basis. Those with legitimate claims are permitted to apply for
political asylum while the bulk are expelled from the country.
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