TUNIS, Tunisia

Tunisian coast guard units have rescued 487 asylum seekers who were trying to reach Europe, according to the Defense Ministry on Friday.

Acting on a tip off, the teams stopped a boat carrying the asylum seekers off the Kerkennah Islands, the ministry said in a statement.

They included 93 children and 13 women.

The nationals of Egypt, Bangladesh, Syria, Morocco and Ethiopia were brought to Sfax Port and referred to the National Guard.

For years, Maghreb countries -- Algeria, Libya, Mauritania, Morocco, and Tunisia -- have witnessed attempts by migrants from mainly sub-Saharan Africa to reach Europe.

* Writing by Gozde Bayar