Migrants on a boat which is still in Libyan-controlled waters have called family members in Italy, requesting assistance, Italian media has reported.

The boat is said to be carrying 20 migrants, including a seven-month-old baby.

The migrants are believed to have left from Eritrea and Somalia. Their request for assistance was forwarded to the Italian Coastguard by the UN High Commission for Refugees. The Maltese authorities were also alerted.

The media sources said Libyan boats tried to locate the same boat some days ago.

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