Over 1,000 refugees attempt to escape Libya by sea in 24 hours
A boat carrying refugees off the coast of Libya as seen by the reconnaissance plane Moonbird
[Felix Weiss / Sea Watch] 
OVER 1,000 refugees attempted to flee Libya across the central Mediterranean between Thursday and this morning and still more rickety boats are leaving as the weather improves.
Most of the escapees, around 800, according to the International Organisation for Migration (IOM) today, were intercepted by the EU-supported Libyan Coastguard.
An NGO refugee rescue ship, Ocean Viking, said it picked up 237 refugees in two separate missions on Thursday and around 180 more in two boats this morning.
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