TRIPOLI, Sept. 20 (Xinhua) -- Libyan navy on Friday said it rescued nearly 500 illegal immigrants in six operations off the country's western coast.
"Coast guards' patrols, in the past few days, rescued 493 immigrants of different African nationalities in six operations," navy Spokesman Ayob Qassem told Xinhua.
The rescue operations took place north, west and east of the capital Tripoli at different distances, the spokesman said.
Qassem said the rescued immigrants include women and children on six rubber boats.
Thousands of immigrants, mostly Africans, choose to cross the Mediterranean Sea toward European shores due to the state of insecurity and chaos that plagued Libya following the 2011 uprising that toppled the late leader Muammar Gaddafi's regime.
Migrant shelters in Libya are crowded with thousands rescued at sea or arrested by the Libyan security services.
According to the UN Higher Commission of Refugees, 900 immigrants have drowned at sea this year so far, while attempting to cross from Libya toward Europe.
