AlHijjah 15, 1436, September 29, 2015, SPA -- An estimated 1,151 migrants were pulled from boats in the Mediterranean on Monday in 11 rescue operations by Italian authorities off the coast of Libya, a news report said, according to dpa. The rescued migrants were being transported to the Italian ports of Lampedusa and Pozzallo, according to Ansa news agency. Also Monday, the European Council announced the second phase of the EU operation to tackle the surging numbers of migrants crossing the Mediterranean, and renamed it Operation Sophia. From October 7, officers "will be able to board, search, seize and divert vessels suspected of being used for human smuggling" in international waters, it said.
