Hundreds of migrants rescued off Libyan coast

Libya’s coastguard has intercepted 299 migrants from sub-Saharan African countries on two rubber boats east of Tripoli.

The migrants were intercepted near the town of Zliten by one of several coastguard vessels that Italy repaired and delivered to Libya this year.

Libya’s western shoreline is the main departure point for migrants trying to reach Europe by boat, many of them fleeing conflict or poverty.

Crossings have dropped sharply since July, when an armed group in the smuggling hub of Sabratha began blocking departures.