727 migrants escorted to Bangladesh

Myanmar's navy is escorting a boat carrying 727 migrants to the waters of neighboring Bangladesh, four days after intercepting it in the Andaman Sea, the Myanmar's information minister said on Tuesday.

The migrants, who were found drifting on Friday in a converted fishing boat that was taking on water, wanted to go to Bangladesh rather than Myanmar and the navy was assisting them, said Ye Htut, who is also Myanmar's presidential spokesman.

"The Myanmar navy will accompany them to Bangladesh waters. It will provide them with water, food and other things," he said. "This is based on their wishes - we will cooperate with them to send them to Bangladesh."