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| Mauritania rejects migrant boat | |
| (about 22 hours later) | |
| A vessel which broke down with about 200 illegal migrants on board is being refused permission by Mauritania to dock or allow passengers ashore. | |
| The ship is thought to be carrying mostly Pakistani migrants. | |
| It was reached by a Spanish vessel on Saturday and towed to within 12km (7.5 miles) of Nouadhibou fishing port. | |
| "Mauritania has nothing to do with this boat breaking down, nor with taking charge of those on board," said a foreign ministry statement. | |
| Neighbouring Senegal has also said it could not handle the ship. | |
| Canary route | Canary route |
| The Spanish foreign ministry earlier reported that Mauritania had agreed to help with the rescue. | The Spanish foreign ministry earlier reported that Mauritania had agreed to help with the rescue. |
| But a security source said the Pakistanis had not been intercepted in Mauritanian territorial waters and there was no question they could be taken there. | |
| Senegal and Mauritania are launching points for tens of thousands of African migrants looking to reach Europe, many via the Canary Islands. | Senegal and Mauritania are launching points for tens of thousands of African migrants looking to reach Europe, many via the Canary Islands. |
| About 30,000 Africans were caught trying to reach the Spanish island chain last year. | About 30,000 Africans were caught trying to reach the Spanish island chain last year. |
| EU patrols are now trying to stem the flow of immigrants. | EU patrols are now trying to stem the flow of immigrants. |