Updated: 246 migrants brought to Malta

246 mostly Eritrean migrants were brought to Malta this evening on three AFM patrol boats after being picked up from a fishing boat whose engine had failed some 100 miles south of Malta. The migrants, who include 48 women and seven children, are believed to have sailed from Libya. They issued a distress call yesterday afternoon and their boat was intercepted by AFM patrol boats during the night. The migrants had wanted to continue their voyage North but their boat's engine failed at 9.30 a.m. today and the migrants were then transferred to the patrol boats.  Another boat carrying 77 migrants arrived in Malta on Sunday.