Italy, France save over 1,400 migrants at sea

ROME — Ships from Italy and France rescued over 1,400 migrants Saturday after smugglers’ boats ran into trouble in the Mediterranean Sea near Libya.

Italian officials said 1,200 migrants were being taken to Italian ports after several different rescue operations by its coast guard and navy.

In a French operation, another 217 migrants in three rubber dinghies were rescued by a Marine patrol boat, and two suspected smugglers were detained, the Maritime Prefecture in Toulon said.