Valletta, Malta  - A boat carrying 120 would-be illegal immigrants was stranded Thursday without fuel or water in Libyan- controlled waters 150 miles south of Malta, a person on board the vessel told United Nations refugee officials by satellite phone.

So far, no country has sent any rescuers to provide assistance, according to the head of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) office in Malta, Neil Falzon.

A UNHCR representative on the Italian island of Lampedusa received the emergency call regarding the stranded would-be immigrants, including 25 women and six children.

Falzon said the Libyan, Italian and Maltese authorities had been informed.

"So far it looks like nobody is going out to help them, but since they are in the Libyan area, this is primarily Libya's responsibility," he was quoted as saying by the Times of Malta.

Libya has often been accused of shirking its responsibilities in cases of illegal immigration, even when boats break down in its search and rescue area. (dpa)