84 migrants who were brought towards Malta on an Italian coast Guard vessel were disembarked last night by the AFM, an AFM spokesperson told The Malta Independent.

The migrants were transferred onto AFM vessels outside of Maltese waters, this newsroom was told

Italian news agency ANSA yesterday reported that the Italian Coast Guard rescued 84 migrants from a boat in difficulty in waters under Malta's responsibility, however said that Malta was refusing to take the migrants in.

The news report yesterday read that the Italian Coast Guard rescued the migrants on request from the Maltese authorities, and that the Italian unit was making its way towards Malta.

Asked for an update this morning, the AFM confirmed that the migrants were disembarked in Malta, and that it was the AFM who brought the migrants into harbour. Asked what happened given reports that Malta was refusing entry, the AFM representative said that such decisions are taken at a higher level.