Valletta, Malta  - A group of 28 Somalis, including six women, landed Tuesday in Malta - the first arrival of would-be immigrants on the Mediterranean island-nation in almost two months.

At around dawn, several residents of Malta's St Thomas Bay spotted the migrants' boat and alerted police who boarded the vessel and took the group to a detention centre, officials said.

In June no migrants landed on Malta, compared to the 575 who arrived during the same period in 2008.

Maltese officials believe the sharp fall is due to the coming into effect in May of a controversial pact between Italy and Libya to curb illegal immigration across the Mediterranean.

Through the agreement, Libya has agreed to prevent the use of its shores as a launch pad for such sea journeys and to accept would-be immigrants intercepted by Italian authorities in international waters.

Rights activists, United Nations officials and the Vatican have all condemned what they say are deportations by Italy done without determining whether the migrants qualify for political asylum.(dpa)