ROME, Italy - Italian coast guards plucked 48 refugees from the Mediterranean on Wednesday and spotted 20 bodies at sea after a boat laden with some 200 African migrants from Libya capsized during the night.

"We have rescued 48 people alive from the sea while around 20 bodies have been spotted by the crew of the helicopter," said coast guard spokesman Vittorio Alessandro, based on the southern Italian island of Lampedusa.

Around 130 people who were on the boat are believed to be missing.

"We are still hoping. Our boats and helicopters have thrown all sorts of life jackets and lifeboats to allow people to hold on," Alessandro said.

Women and children are among those missing.

AFP

(China Daily 04/07/2011 page12)