Misurata coastguards intercept 97 migrants bound to Europe

The Libyan Coast Guard, Misurata branch, has intercepted today 97 migrants of different African nationalities as they were endeavouring to cross the Misurata shores and on to the nearest European rescue ships.

Among the 97 immigrants, there were 22 women from Eretria, sources from the Libyan Coast Guard told the Libyan News.
The migrants were caught before they go on the boat, which they were waiting for at the time they got arrested, the sources added, saying that the authorities in Misurata phoned the Eritrean Embassy in Libya to arrange for the women the deportation to their home country.

After the toppling of the dictator Muamar Gaddafi, Libya has become the preferred stepping stone for the migrants to cross the Mediterranean into Europe sing boats and dinghies, which in most cases lead to the death of many migrants before they even cross the Libyan waters.