NGOs claim Libyan coast guard is returning migrants from Maltese SAR waters

Libyan coast guard boats entered Malta's search and rescue zone on Saturday, international NGOs claimed, in what they fear is an attempt to push migrants back to the north African country. 
Members of Sea-Watch claimed to have spotted at least two Libyan coastguard patrol boats in Malta’s SAR zone. A smaller boat was seen carrying around 20 people, the NGO said, and it was headed towards a larger boat with around 90 individuals on it.
Migrant rescue hotline Alarm Phone also made similar claims, saying the Libyan coast guard was "conducting pushbacks from Malta SAR zone". 
Returning asylum seekers to a country or territory where they face persecution is considered a crime under international law.

Questions about Maltese government involvement 
Questions sent to the Armed Forces of Malta remained unanswered at the time of writing. 
Three local NGOs - Aditus Foundation, Integra Foundation and Jesuit Refugee Services - expressed concern about the pushback allegations and said they suggested the Maltese government was complicit in the operation.
"Returning migrants to Libya means returning men, women and children to severe human rights abuses,” the NGOs said, adding that “it is...