Migrants Rescued Near Greek Isles

Greece's coastguard on Thursday rescued 73 migrants in three separate incidents near the Aegean islands of Lesbos and Samos, it said.

The first two groups, numbering 60 migrants of unknown nationality, were picked up in the waters northeast and southeast of Lesbos, respectively.

Another coastguard patrol boat intercepted another 13 migrants off Samos.

Both islands lie a short distance from the Turkish coast.

Greece is one of the main ports of entry into the European Union for people fleeing war-torn and impoverished countries in Africa, the Middle East and the Indian subcontinent.

Human traffickers are using Greece's Aegean islands as a preferred route into Europe following a tightening of migration controls along its land border with Turkey.