Negotiations are under way to convince the majority of around fifty stranded illegal immigrants rescued by the crew of a Spanish trawler around 100 miles from Tripoli earlier this week, that they will be fairly treated by the Libyan authorities.

According to the owner of the Santa Pola-based 'El Clot de l'Illot', José Ruso, it arrived in Tripoli port at around 4am this morning - when food and water was brought on board - after receiving official authorisation. 

Mr Ruso, whose son, Héctor, is the ship's captain, revealed that there were several women and children among the 49 survivors, who were found clinging to a marker buoy last Wednesday after their flimsy vessel suffered some kind of a mechanical breakdown.

Two of the most seriously ill were airlifted to hospital by helicopter, and it is believed that the bodies of around ten others who did not make it, were thrown overboard.

While a handful of the survivors have disembarked, the majority are currently refusing to leave the ship out of fear of the treatment they may receive.

Mr Ruso concluded by saying that the crew, who have already been away from home for 38 days, are hoping to get three or four more days' fishing in before returning to Spain, providing that the current deadlock can be resolved rapidly.