Italy intercepts immigrants' ship

Two pregnant women were on board the crowded ship

CATANIA, Sicily (CNN) -- The Italian coastguard has intercepted a ship carrying about 1,000 immigrants off the coast of Sicily.

The ship, named the Monica, was escorted to the Sicilian port city of Catania, on Monday.

Some of the passengers told reporters that the ship had been at sea for eight days, and they had not had access to fresh water for the last two days of their voyage.

The ship appeared to be in poor condition and the passengers said sanitary conditions were terrible.

Authorities immediately began unloading the ship and administering first aid to the immigrants. There has been no official word on their conditions.

Reporters said some of the passengers were dehydrated but appeared to be in good health.

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One woman went into labour while she was on board the ship, and an Italian doctor was brought in to deliver the baby.

A helicopter flew the woman, her baby and another pregnant woman -- along with the doctor -- to a hospital in Catania.

The immigrants said the ship set sail from Iraq and stopped in Iran before it was intercepted near Sicily.

The passengers have been taken to a sports stadium near the port.