The Armed Forces are assisting the Italian coastguard in the rescue of at least 1,000 migrants on 12 boats some 110 miles south of Lampedusa.

This is the third operation of its kind in as many days.

Prime Minister Joseph Muscat tweeted:

"#Malta @Armed_Forces_MT working with #Italy authorities in major joint operation rescuing migrants on numerous boats leaving from #Libya."

The Italian coast guard said it had plucked more than 130 people from two rubber boats about 180 kilometres south of the island of Lampedusa so far, and was working to save eight more vessels.

"We are certainly at more than 1,000 migrants" involved in today's rescue operation, a spokesman for the coast guard in Rome told Reuters.

Assistance has also been provided to 40 people on board a dinghy just a few miles off Libya.

According to Ansa, gunmen threatened an Italian Coast Guard patrol boat that was rescuing a boat with migrants on board, about 50 miles from Tripoli.

The gunmen ordered the Italians personnel to leave the migrants boat behind after they rescued the migrants. The Coast Guard personnel, who were not armed, obeyed the order.

Migrants arrive at the Sicilian harbour of Pozzallo after they were rescued from overcrowded boats near Libya. Photo: Antonio Parrinello, ReutersMigrants arrive at the Sicilian harbour of Pozzallo after they were rescued from overcrowded boats near Libya. Photo: Antonio Parrinello, Reuters

Better weather since last week has encouraged migrants to make the perilous journey from North Africa, where a breakdown of order in Libya has made it almost impossible to police the traffickers who pack people onto rickety boats.

More are said to be leaving Libya, which seems to be experiencing a mass exodus, according to Italian media.

Migrants who landed in Pozzallo this morning included a man from Central Africa suffering from a gun shot wound. He is being interrogated by state police.

Ansa said that according to initial reports, he was shot at by the smugglers to force him to get on a boat.

More than 300 people died last week trying to make the crossing, which claimed 3,500 lives last year even before Italy closed its Mare Nostrum search and rescue mission in December.

The coast guard ship Fiorillo and several cutters were sent to the latest rescue, along with four merchant ships and two tug boats which were diverted to join the operation. One navy ship, two police patrol ships and a Maltese vessel had also been mobilised, the coast guard spokesman said.

 

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