The authorities in Italy say they've intercepted a boat carrying at least seven-hundred illegal immigrants off the country's southern coast.

Those on board were said to be gypsies who set off from Montenegro.

The vessel was escorted to the port of Bari where people are expected to be taken to a transit camp. Italy has said it wlil not grant refugee status to new arrivals from Kosovo and would consider all those without visas as illegal immigrants who can be deported swiftly. Many gypsies are believed to be fleeing Kosovo because they fear reprisals from returning Kosovo Albanians, who accuse them of co-operating with the Serbian forces.