THE CAPE VERDE ISLANDS HAVE SAID THEY WILL EXPEL TO INTERNATIONAL WATERS A FISHING BOAT CARRYING 58 UNDOCUMENTED IMMIGRANTS AFTER IT SUFFERED AN ENGINE FAILURE, NEWS REPORTS SAID FRIDAY IN LISBON AND MADRID. THE GHANAIAN-FLAGGED BOAT CARRIED IMMIGRANTS FROM SENEGAL, MALI AND GUINEA-BISSAU AS WELL AS FIVE CREW. IT WAS BELIEVED TO BE EN ROUTE FROM MAURITANIA OR SENEGAL TO SPAIN'S CANARY ISLANDS, ACCORDING TO DPA. REPORTS SAID THE BOAT WAS FOUND ADRIFT AND PREVENTED FROM ENTERING SEVERAL PORTS UNTIL IT WAS FINALLY ALLOWED TO DOCK IN PRAIA, THE CAPITAL OF THE FORMER PORTUGUESE COLONY. THE TECHNICAL PROBLEM WAS REPORTEDLY REPAIRED. THE PASSENGERS WERE GIVEN FOOD AND WATER, BUT ABOUT 20 POLICE AND TROOPS STOOD GUARD TO PREVENT THEM FROM DISEMBARKING. "ESCORTING" THE BOAT TO INTERNATIONAL WATERS WAS IN LINE WITH CAPE VERDE'S POLICY ON ILLEGAL IMMIGRATION, OFFICIALS WERE QUOTED AS SAYING.