Malta rescues 85 migrants from sinking boat

Malta has spearheaded EU efforts to share migrants rescued in the central Mediterranean among several member states after rescue ships were refused entry by Italy. (Courtesy)

A Maltese patrol boat rescued a group of 85 migrants late on Friday night and will bring them to Malta on Saturday morning, the Armed Forces said.

The migrants, believed to be from North and Eastern Africa, were in a sinking wooden boat, the army said.