Italy rescues 4,000 migrants at sea

Rome, July 30 (IANS) Italy's coast guard and navy said they rescued upwards of 4,000 migrants from Mediterranean waters on Friday.

Some 3,400 travellers aboard 28 rafts and six boats were rescued in operations coordinated by the coast guard, EFE news reported.

The Italian coast guard was assisted by a British vessel deployed as part of the European Union's Eunavfor Med, an Irish-flagged ship and craft operated by the NGOs, SOS Mediterranee, Jugend Rettet, Sea Watch and Sea Eye.

More than 600 other migrants were rescued in the Sicilian Channel in an effort led by the Italian navy ships Margottini, Grecale and Bettica.

Also Friday, the 137 migrants rescued on Thursday by coast guard units were taken to the port of Lampedusa.