Angelino Alfano

At least forty people suffocated in an overcrowded boat carrying around 400 migrants while crossing the Mediterranean Sea into Europe on Saturday.

Many of the migrants were saved as the boat issued a distress call and was intercepted off the Libyan coast.

The rescue operation, which is conducted by the Italian navy, is still ongoing and most of the passengers have been saved.

At least 40 migrants died Aug 15 in the hold of an overcrowded smuggling boat in the Mediterranean Sea north of Libya, apparently killed by fuel fumes At least 40 migrants died Aug.

Hundreds of migrants were captured from a Turkish-flagged cargo ship in the Dardanelles Strait on March 12 after coast guards opened fire to stop the vessel.

"EU - Western Balkans" conference held in Belgrade

BELGRADE -- A forum gathering ministers of interior and justice, dubbed "EU - Western Balkans," was held in Belgrade on Friday.

The ministers discussed the fight against organized crime and corruption.

Search and rescue operations to prevent migrants drowning in the Mediterranean will be undertaken by the EU as of weekend, but UK says it cuts support, while future of Italian mission looks uncertain The EU will launch a patrol mission in the Mediterranean on the first day of November amid warnings the number of boat migrant deaths could rise with Italy mulling pulling the plug on its own resc