Greek rescue teams have called off for the night a search for survivors after a boat carrying illegal immigrants sank in the the Aegean Sea.

At least two people were drowned and others are feared missing, although the coastguard said they did not know how many people were on board.

Nearby ships off the Greek island of Nisiros where the boat sank rescued twenty-two passengers.

Those rescued included immigrants from India, Pakistan and Iraq.

The search, aided by a helicopter, will resume early on Friday.

Meanwhile, police in southern Italy detained overnight about one-hundred-and-twenty illegal immigrants in the Apulia region.

Greece and Italy are two of the main entry-points for illegal immigrants to the European Union.