Police intercepted three boats crowded with 166 illegal immigrants off the coast of southern Spain on Friday, a government official said, as calm summer weather spurred migrants from North Africa, Reuters reported. In the first four months of the year, the number of migrants attempting the crossing to Spain from North Africa fell by 14 percent but mild weather conditions in the summer usually tempts more immigrants to attempt the sea crossing. El Pais newspaper in its online edition said a fourth boat was intercepted bringing the total to 196 migrants, the biggest highest day of detentions since early February. Officials could not be reached to confirm this. --SP 2354 Local Time 2054 GMT
