Italian authorities arrested 35 illegal Egyptian immigrants–including nine from Luxor–aboard a boat near Italy's northern shores on Thursday, the Egyptian Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced Friday.
Italy also arrested a group on another ship near Siracusa that included 41 Egyptians, according to the ministry.
The Egyptian Embassy in Italy spoke on the phone with Italian officials, who agreed to release and deport all 76 Egyptians who were detained. The illegal immigrants are expected to reach Egypt Saturday, said Ambassador Mohamed Abdel-Hakam, who is the assistant foreign minister for consular affairs and Egyptians abroad.
Translated from the Arabic Edition
