The  human  rights watchdog says they must stop collaborating in the capture of these unfortunate tens of thousands and find a legal pathway into Europe.

Amnesty International says European governments are not only fully aware of what is happening to would-be migrants and refugees, they are complicit in the gross abuse of people they don’t want to have crossing into Europe.

Amnesty’s European Director John Dalhuisen says Libyan authorities, militias, armed groups and people smugglers are working together for financial gain.

European governments supporting the Libyan coastguard are implicated in people trafficking and knowingly complicit in the torture and abuse of tens of thousands of people detained.

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He says this is to discourage more people from attempting the dangerous crossing.

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Minister Thomas de Maizière says African migrants saved at sea  should be sent back to Africa instead of taken to Europe.

A ministerial spokeswoman says this measure would discourage migrants from coming and demolishing the organisations of human traffickers that organise the crossings.

Director of the Germany’s Federal Police Helmut Teichmann says the federal government’s aim is to stop the refugees before they reach Europe.

On Saturday, 2 200 more people tried to cross the Strait of Sicily in 16 different vessels, and were rescued by the Italian Coast Guard who later brought them to Italy.

Rescuers also recovered ten bodies of migrants who drowned during the attempt.

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Those saved in 22 separate operations by the Italian navy have been taken to the port of Caligari.

Libyan-based people smugglers are taking advantage of calmer seas to sent desperate migrants north – but at enormous cost in human  lives.

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At least  20 died trying to reach Europe last weekend.

The death toll is likely to grow far higher.

The Libyan coast guard reported two overturned boats between Sabratha and Zwara. Only four bodies were found.

Volunteers have recovered the bodies of 41 presumed migrants washed up on a Libyan beach west of Tripoli.

They’ve been taken to the morgue for DNA testing before being buried.

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