May 17, 2003	Saturday	Rabi-ul-Awwal 14, 1424

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MOGADISHU, May 16: More than 85 illegal immigrants are feared dead in yet another sea tragedy off the Yemeni coast after their boat was apparently struck by an oncoming vessel, witnesses said on Friday.

The immigrants — 40 Somalis and 45 Ethiopians — were travelling to Yemen on Monday when the boat was crushed, a Somali embassy official in Yemen Hussein Hajji Ahmed Mohamud said after seeing witnesses.

It was not immediately known how the disaster took place or who was involved. Passengers on a second boat which left 24 hours later on the same route informed Yemen authorities about their experience.—dpa