ROMA, ITALY

A ship packed with around a thousand immigrants has been towed to the island of Sicily.

Italian officials fear many on board the Monica may be severely ill after spending up to a week at sea. They include around 300 children and another 200 women.

The Italian Navy intercepted the ship in the eastern Mediterranean last night. But some of the immigrants, fearing arrest, threatened to throw children into the sea if they were not allowed to continue their voyage.

After a tense standoff, naval officials persuaded those on board to let them escort the ship to the port of Catania, in eastern Sicily. They also called a helicopter to take a pregnant woman to hospital, but she gave birth on the ship.

One of the immigrants told reporters that the groups were Iraqi Kurds, while Lebanon has denied reports that the ship set sail from one of its ports.

Italy's Interior Minister Claudio Scajola has issued instructions for a state of emergency to be declared in Sicily.

The measure is expected to be approved by the cabinet on Wednesday.