Valetta, Malta - A group of 43 would-be immigrants was rescued Tuesday off Malta after their dinghy started taking in water. A Maltese patrol boat had been monitoring the dinghy since Monday evening after two women on board, including one in the final stage of pregnancy, were taken ashore.
The African migrants - 35 men and eight women whose nationality has yet to be established - finally decided to abandon their leaking dinghy when it became clear they would have failed to reach their desired destination: mainland Europe.
Nearly 2,000 would-be illegal immigrants have reached Malta so far this year, severely stretching reception facilities on the tiny Mediterranean island.
