Libya's coastguard has rescued 115 migrants east of its capital city, who had been trying to reach Europe by boat.

Local officials say the rescued migrants were from Mali and other African states. They were later taken to detention centres in Tripoli. Libya has long been a stepping stone for migrants seeking a better life in Europe, with Italy some 300 kilometres away across the Mediterranean.

In late March, the Italian coastguard said it had rescued nearly 1,500 migrants, including many women and children, in the Mediterranean off the coast of Libya in just two days.