Valletta, Malta - A group of 95 would-be illegal immigrants were escorted Monday to Malta, an arrival that further fuels an immigration crisis on the tiny Mediterranean island state.

A Maltese military patrol board found the group of Africans - 80 men and 15 women - were found floating on a large dinghy some two nautical miles south of Malta.

Another group of 28 Africans arrived late Saturday.

During a meeting with his Maltese counterpart Lawrence Gonzi last week, Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi said he would support Malta's appeal to the European Union for assistance from other members of the bloc in dealing with illegal immigration. (dpa)