article_snippet.sent: (CNN)Desperate migrants from Africa and the Middle East keep heading to Europe, with 978 rescued Friday in the Mediterranean Sea, the Italian Coast Guard said Saturday via Twitter.
article_snippet.sent: The migrants were picked up 30 miles off the coast of LibyaLibya, said European Parliament member Matteo Salvini, the leader of Italy's far-right Northern League.
article_snippet.sent: In the first three months of 2015, Italy registered more than 10,000 migrants arriving, the International Organization for Migration said, and about 2,000 were rescued at sea during the first weekend of April in the Channel of Sicily.
article_snippet.sent: Most migrants recorded this year come from countries in Africa as well as Somalia and Syria, the IMO said.
article_snippet.sent: Most migrants use Libya as a country of transit.
article_snippet.sent: Most of the migrants are asylum seekers, victims of trafficking or violence, unaccompanied children and pregnant women.
highlights_snippet.sent: The migrants were picked up 30 miles off the coast of Libya, an Italian leader says .
  