The Libyan coastguard has rescued more than 300 migrants, including Egyptians, who were attempting the perilous crossing to Europe in rickety boats, a spokesman for the Libyan naval forces said. Some 140 migrants were rescued off the coast of western Tripoli on Tuesday as they travelled in a rubber dinghy, the spokesman was quoted as saying by Egypt's state-news agency MENA . More than 160 other migrants, from Egypt, Morocco, Tunisia and other African countries, were picked up around Sabratha in western Libya. This second group included seven women and six children. Libya has long been a stepping stone for migrants who hope to cross the Mediterranean to reach Europe. Human smugglers have exploited the chaos in Libya following the 2011 uprising that overthrew Muammar Gaddafi to traffic migrants in boats, mainly to Italy, some 300km away. Boats have increasingly departed from Egypt as well.
