Italian authorities said Tuesday that close to 1,000 migrants from five different boats had been rescued overnight in the southern Mediterranean. Each year, especially during the warm summer months, tens of thousands of people try to reach Italy or Malta\'s shores. They are fleeing poverty, war and persecution in Africa, the Middle East and elsewhere, often at considerable expense and risk, reported DPA. The largest group of migrants - 270 - was picked up late Monday 65 nautical miles from the Libyan coast by a cargo ship.