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NICOSIA, Sept. 19 (Xinhua) -- Cypriot authorities said that 12 immigrants -- 11 men and one woman -- were picked Thursday from a boat which had been spotted 56 nautical miles off the eastern shores of the eastern Mediterranean island.
They said that a ship was diverted from its course and picked up the immigrants before Cypriot rescuers arrived in the area.
The immigrants were later handed to a marine police rescue vessel which took them to the port city of Larnaca.
Authorities said that after processing, the immigrants will be taken to a refugee host center near the capital Nicosia.
The immigrants are believed to be Syrians fleeing the fighting in their country, about 300 km to the east. Enditem
