Migrants crisis: More than 4,000 people rescued near Libya coast Published duration 23 August 2015

media caption Sophia Tran-Thompson: "The Mediterranean Sea has become the world's most deadly crossing point for migrants"

About 4,400 migrants were rescued from boats off the coast of Libya on Saturday, in one of the biggest single-day operations mounted to date, Italy's coastguard has said.

It said it had received distress calls from more than 20 vessels.

The route from Libya to Italy is one of the busiest for those trying to enter Europe.

More than 2,000 people have died this year in attempts to reach Europe in overcrowded, unseaworthy boats.

Of the 264,500 migrants the United Nations says have crossed the Mediterranean so far this year, close to 104,000 have landed in Italy . Another 160,000 arrived in Greece.

Two Italian navy ships were involved in Saturday's rescue effort. Responding to two wooden boats in danger of sinking, the Cigala Fulgosi picked up 507 people and the Vega 432, the navy said.

Various other Italian vessels were involved in the rescue effort, as well as the Norwegian military ship Siem Pilot, which has been deployed as part of the EU's Triton patrol mission.

A boat belonging to humanitarian group Doctors without Borders rescued 311 people, including a newborn baby.

image copyright EPA image caption The surge in attempted migrant crossings has prompted criticism from right-wing politicians

The increase in rescues prompted criticism of the centre-left Prime Minister Matteo Renzi.

"This must be a joke. We are using our own forces to do the people smugglers' business for them and ensure we are invaded," said Maurizio Gasparri, a senator for Silvio Berlusconi's centre-right Forza Italia party.

Populist anti-immigration politician Matteo Salvini called on the government to take the migrants and refugees to disused Italian oil rigs off Libya.

Humanitarian groups say the surge in numbers is because of conflicts and repression in Africa and the Middle East, and European governments should do more to create safe routes to Europe.

Meanwhile, police in the city of Palermo in Sicily have arrested six Egyptian nationals on suspicion of people smuggling after a rescue on 19 August.