Madrid - A Spanish fishing boat has rescued 49 African migrants from their sinking inner-tube craft in the sea area between Libya and Malta, the Spanish Foreign Ministry has reported on Friday.
Following the rescue Spanish authorities had ordered the migrants to be brought to Libya, from where they had likely begun their journey.
However, Libyan authorities at the port of Tripoli initially refused to let them enter, and were admitted only after a telephone call from Spanish Foreign Minister Miguel Angel Moratinos to his Libyan counterpart.
According to Spanish media reports, the migrants initially refused to leave the fishing boat upon arrival in Libya, and barricaded themselves inside the vessel.