Over 600 Europe-bound migrants returned to Libya: Navy
Rescued migrants sit aboard a Libyan coastguard vessel
More than600migrantshoping to reach Europe fromLibyahave been stopped since Friday, thenavysaid, as the International Organization for Migration warnedLibyawas "not a safe port".
Three groups of illegalmigrantswere intercepted at sea on Friday and Saturday byLibya's coastguard and units in charge of securing ports, thenavysaid in a statement, released overnight Saturday to Sunday.
It said the 638 people were mostly citizens from sub-Saharan African nations trying to reach Europe, and they were brought to a naval base in the capital Tripoli ahead of handing themoverto an anti-immigration squad run by the interior ministry.
Thenavysaid a first group of 334migrants, who were on board four inflatable boats, were "rescued" on Friday.
Two other groups, of 132 and 172 people, were assisted separately on Friday and Saturday.
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Thenavydid not say if the boats were sinking or had technical problems.
International agencies have repeatedly denounced the return toLibyaofmigrantsintercepted at sea, due to the chaotic situation in the country and poor conditions in detention centres.
The IOM repeated its concerns late Saturday.
"Today, 172migrants, including women and children, werereturnedtoLibyaby the coast guard," it said.
"Our teams provided emergency assistance to more than600migrantsinterceptedoverthe past 48 hours, it added.
"We reiterate thatLibyais not a safe port".
Libyais a major route formigrantstrying to reach Europe via the Mediterranean, and traffickers have thrived in the lawlessness that followed the 2011 overthrow of dictator Moamer Kadhafi.