Italy has handed over four repaired patrol boats to the Libyan coast guard as part of cooperation to fight against illegal immigration.
The crews were trained in Italy "to monitor Libyan territorial waters...and contribute, together with Italy and Europe, to security in the Mediterranean", Italian Interior Minister Marco Minniti was quoted as saying by AFP Tuesday.
The vessels had been due for delivery in 2014. Another six patrol boats would be handed over to Libya after training of the crews.