The Italian police have arrested two men who were allegedly involved in the human smuggling operation which saw 17 people killed as some 200 missing off the Libyan coast on Monday.

Ansa news agency said the pair could face charges of murder. They allegedly damaged the vessel to induce an Italian rescue.

The tragedy followed a similar sinking off the coast of Libya on Sunday, in which as many as 40 migrants died.

Monday's sinking occurred around 40 miles from the coast of Libya, near an offshore oil derrick.

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