Nearly 1 250 migrants have so far been rescued in the Mediterranean over the Christmas period and five bodies have been recovered.

Italian officials say the migrants were rescued in four separate operations in the waters between North Africa and Sicily.

All were being taken to Sicily aboard Italian navy vessels, about 900 of them aboard the ship Etna.

Four bodies recovered by a Cypriot ship and one by a Maltese vessels were also taken to Sicily. It was not clear how the individuals died.

Most of the migrants are from central Africa.

The International Organisation for Migration says about 3 200 migrants have died this year trying to reach Europe from Africa.

The post Italian navy rescues Europe bound migrants appeared first on Jean-Jacques Cornish.