At least 18 Somali migrants drown off Yemen

SANAA (Reuters) - At least 18 Somalis have drowned off the coast of Yemen while trying to cross from Somalia to the Arabian Peninsula country, Yemeni officials said on Sunday.

The crew of the vessel carrying about 120 migrants forced them to jump into the sea off Yemen's coastline to swim ashore, the officials said.

"Yemen coastguard boats rescued some of the refugees and the rest swam to the shore while 18 drowned," one official said, adding that 102 survivors were sent to refugee camps.

Earlier this month another 53 Somali migrants drowned in a similar incident.

Many African migrants try to reach Yemen, which they see as a gateway to wealthier parts of the Middle East, and the West.