Lampedusa, Italy - Italian coast guard patrols intercepted Tuesday over 300 would-be immigrants attempting to reach the country's shores illegally, officials said.
One boat carrying 290 people - including 29 women and a newborn baby - was spotted by the coast guard some 30 nautical miles south of the tiny Italian island of Lampedusa.
The group, whose nationality was not immediately known, was taken to a reception centre for illegal immigrants situated on Lampedusa.
Another group consisting of 29 people was brought to Lampedusa earlier when their vessel was also intercepted by the coast guard.