Mediaboss Marketing

SAVED FROM THE SEA: A medic tends to the baby of a migrant after she was arrested by Libyan coastguards in Tripoli yesterday Picture: REUTERS

More than 120 migrants including women and children were rescued by Libyan coastguards off the coast of Tripoli yesterday after their boat ran into trouble.

The migrants set off on Friday from Sabratha a town 70km west of Libyas capital that has become a staging ground for traffickers but their boats engine failed, a coastguard official said.

A photographer at the scene said the vessel was intercepted by a coastguard patrol boat around 20 nautical miles northeast of Tripoli.

The official said those on board were of various African nationalities and included 10 women and five children, including a baby.

Libya said on Saturday it had intercepted more than 400 migrants bound for Europe in recent days.

The announcement followed a meeting of European Union leaders in Malta where they agreed on moves to curb mass migration from Libya.

The plan includes funding and training Libyas coastguard to make it better able to intercept migrant boats and helping neighbouring countries to close routes into Libya, according to a draft statement.

Lawlessness in Libya since a 2011 uprising that ousted longtime strongman Muammar Gaddafi has allowed smuggling networks to develop a lucrative trafficking trade.

Italys coastguard said on Thursday more than 1 750 migrants had been rescued in the Mediterranean within 24 hours.

Share on Google Plus Share

More:
Libya rescues 120 migrants off Tripoli - Herald live