In this surveillance photo taken August 19, 2009 and made available August 26, 2009, a rubber dinghy with five Eritrean illegal immigrants and their interception by Armed Forces of Malta crewmen on a patrol vessel can be seen. According to the migrants when they eventually reached the Italian island of Lampedusa, some 73 others had died as the boat crossed the Mediterranean from Africa, traversing Maltese waters along the way. However, the Armed Forces of Malta claims the five migrants they found refused to be rescued and were deemed capable of continuing their journey. "This declassified image shows clearly the excellent and clean state that the intercepted rubber dinghy was in, as well as the good state of health of the occupants, who can be seen sitting down," the Armed Forces of Malta said. The photo was taken from a FRONTEX-operated Casa-212 Aviocar patrol and surveillance aircraft. REUTERS/Handout/Armed Forces of Malta (MALTA DISASTER POLITICS SOCIETY) QUALITY FROM SOURCE. FOR EDITORIAL USE ONLY. NOT FOR SALE FOR MARKETING OR ADVERTISING CAMPAIGNS
REUTERS/HO