At least 40 Egyptians believed to be illegal immigrants heading for Europe are feared drown after their boat sank off the coast of neighboring Libya. From Cairo, John Leyne.
One of those on the boat survived to raise the alert. Egypt launched a major search and rescue operation. An official said that five more survivors had been pulled from the water as well as three bodies. The fishing boat was close to the maritime border between Egypt and Libya. Those on board are thought to have been
headed for
Europe. That's also possible they could have been looking for work in Libya itself. Since the fall of Colonel Gaddafi, Libya has demanded visas for the many Egyptians looking for work in the country.
Media in Latin America are reporting that the Colombian government and Colombia's largest rebel group, the Farc, have signed an agreement to begin peace talks. The regional media network, Telesur, said the two sides have signed a formal agreement in Cuba to begin talks in October.
The Venezuelan vice-president says a fire at the country's biggest oil
refinery
has spread. He said a third tank was now ablaze following Saturday's explosion which is now known to have killed 48 people. The opposition candidate in the forthcoming presidential election
blamed the explosion on
the inefficiency of the government of President Hugo Chavez.
Dozens of coal miners on the Italian island of Sardinia have