Italy's navy

Europe's top human rights organization asked Italy for more information on its work intercepting migrants at sea, warning that any moves to return them to Libya would break international treaties.

Italy's navy on Dec. 30 said it had taken control of a ship carrying some 700 migrants, including a heavily pregnant woman, after it issued a distress call near the Greek island of Corfu.

Coastguards flown out to the ship by helicopter found hundreds of mainly Syrian illegal migrants on board, Italian media reported, citing military sources.

Italy's navy said it rescued nearly 1,800 migrants in overcrowded boats in the Mediterranean over the weekend, and a merchant ship recovered five bodies from a sinking rubber raft off the coast of Libya.