Another 265 migrants were disembarked in Malta on Saturday after being rescued in four separate operations.

229 migrants were rescued directly by the Armed Forces of Malta while another 36 were picked up by the Ocean Viking and were later transferred onto an AFM vessel.

The latest rescues bring the total number of migrants brought to Malta this week to 459.

182 other migrants on the Ocean Viking who were not picked up in Maltese waters remain on the NGO ship.

Médecins Sans Frontières said the group included=s a newborn, children and a pregnant woman.

It described as "shameful" the decision to leave the remaining rescued people, all of whom were fleeing from Libya, on board.

MSF said it demonstrated "the discriminatory, arbitrary and inhumane nature of a system which continues to prioritise political game-play above human lives and dignity