Madrid - A Spanish fishing boat has rescued 49 African migrants from their sinking inner-tube craft in the sea area between Libya and Malta, the Spanish Foreign Ministry has reported on Friday.

Following the rescue Spanish authorities had ordered the migrants to be brought to Libya, from where they had likely begun their journey.

However, Libyan authorities at the port of Tripoli initially refused to let them enter, and were admitted only after a telephone call from Spanish Foreign Minister Miguel Angel Moratinos to his Libyan counterpart.

According to Spanish media reports, the migrants initially refused to leave the fishing boat upon arrival in Libya, and barricaded themselves inside the vessel.

Fourteen were forcibly transferred to land, according to the reports. The remainder left the ship voluntarily.

The migrants were presumed to have been attempting to reach Italy when they were discovered. Since Wednesday, 800 African migrants have arrived on the Italian island of Lampedusa, off the coast of Tunisia. (dpa)