The Tunisian Maritime Guard has rescued 163 illegal immigrants off the country's eastern coast. The Tunisian Ministry of Defense announced yesterday that illegal immigrants were rescued from a sinking boat off the town of El Louza in the province of Sfax on Saturday night.<br />''<br />''Thousands of illegal immigrants attempt to cross the Mediterranean Sea every year, and Tunisia is one of the main points of access to Europe through irregular channels.<br />''<br />''<br />