Coastguards and local fishermen rescued 30 migrants off the west coast of Algeria

Coastguards and local fishermen rescued 30 would-be migrants off the west coast of Algeria but were searching for five others missing in the same area, security sources said on Saturday.

A group of 22 people were saved by the coastguard and eight by fisherman overnight Friday after their makeshift vessels got into difficulties just a few miles off the coast at Mostaganem, the APS agency reported.

On Thursday police had already intercepted 12 people on two lorries as they were preparing to attempt a crossing to Europe. Mostaganem lies opposite the southern Spanish coast.

The 30 people rescued at sea and those intercepted on Thursday were all due to appear in court on Sunday charged with attempted illegal emigration, which can carry a sentence of up to six months in jail under a law passed in 2009.

Those actually involved in people smuggling can face up to 20 years in jail.