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Some 260 illegal migrants have been detained off the coast of Libya, as they attempted to cross into Europe.

It comes two days after 400 others reportedly died, when their boat capsized, while on route to Italy.

The migrants, all African nationals, were arrested by the Libyan coast guard near the north-western city of Misrata.

They were later transferred to the city’s holding facility for illegal migrants.

In the meantime, international humanitarian organisations have called for the European Union to bolster its sea rescue operations, before migrant flows soar, as they usually do in the summer months.