According to the International Organization for Migration (IOM), a migrant aid agency that has officials in Lampedusa, an Italian fishing boat rescued a three other people.
Between 15 and 20 bodies were seen in the water, officials said, but strong winds and rough seas made it difficult for the police to operate a helicopter and coast guard boats.
Coast Guard officials, said initially, the boat was carrying about 200 people, but the IOM put the figure as high as 300, which he said that some 250 were missing.
The incident provided a stark illustration of the dangers run by desperate people who pay about 1,000 euros ($1,427) for a place on the vessels overloaded carrying refugees and migrants from Africa.
"The ship, which was loaded beyond capacity, had left the Libyan coast with migrants and asylum-seekers from Somalia"
Nigeria, Bangladesh, C?te d'Ivoire, Chad and Sudan, "IOM said in a release." "" Some 40 women and five children were on board. Only two women survived the sinking. ?
Monday, the United Nations refugee agency said more than 400 people fleeing the Libya aboard two boats had disappeared.
Border controls
Thousands have crossed this year after the collapse of the former Tunisian regime and fighting in Libya knocked controls strict border that had already banned the way to Europe.
Most were young men in Tunisia, seeking in France, but these days, there was a growing number of arrivals of Libya, stressing Italian fears fighting could trigger a new exodus.
IOM said that 2,000 migrants mainly Africans and asylum-seekers had landed at Lampedusa of Libya in the past 10 days.
Lampedusa, about halfway between Sicily and the Tunisia, was the focal point of the crisis, with some 20,000 illegal migrants arriving this year, and a overwhelming infrastructure of the tiny island, which normally live on fishing and tourism.
Thousands have been forced to shelter in makeshift camps until the Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi sought to put an end to the urgency of long weeks by sending ferries to clear the island.
However, which has simply moved the problem in other regions in Italy and caused an argument between regional governments where to put in place migrant holding centres.
Italy has also been disagreement on the issue with the France, which turned migrants trying to cross the border. Berlusconi is due to meet French President Nicolas Sarkozy on 26 April in Rome, when the issue will be probably discussed.
Tuesday, the Italian Interior Minister Roberto Maroni has signed an agreement with the Tunisian Government in an attempt to halt traffic, promising aid, increased police cooperation and the possible mandatory repatriation of illegal immigrants.
The agreement was confirmed Wednesday by a cabinet meeting in Rome, which has implemented a contact interdepartmental group to monitor progress.
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