Libyan Navy rescues 146 Europe-bound migrants

By Moataz Wanis

TRIPOLI, Libya (AA) - The Libyan Navy announced on Thursday it had rescued 146 irregular migrants on their way to European shores in two different rescue operations.

The navy said in a statement that the Libyan Coast Guard and Port Security managed to rescue 73 illegal immigrants from several African countries, who were heading to European shores on a boat north of the city of Sabratha.

According to the statement, another group of the same number of African migrants was rescued in a different operation.

Libya is considered one of the most frequently used routes for irregular migrants who want to cross illegally from North Africa to Europe.

*Writing by Bassel Barakat in Ankara