Migrants who were rescued at sea after a smugglers' boat capsized 65 miles (105 kilometres) south of the Italian island of Lampedusa claim they were shot at when they were leaving the Libyan coast.
A Syrian man, who did not want to be named, told a group of reporters that the boat they were on was chased by another as soon as it left Zwara, Libya, and "shots were fired" toward them. No one was injured.
Migrants said there were 400 people, including 100 children on the boat, much higher than initial accounts of some 250. So far, 34 bodies have been recovered some 200 survivors, mostly Syrians fleeing civil war, have been brought to Malta and Italy yesterday. The search was continuing for more bodies.
