The Libyan Navy had announced rescuing 71 illegal immigrants from a dinghy after receiving their distress call off northern Al-Khums.

The Navy said the rescued immigrants were released afterward as communications with the concerned authorities to lodge them in a detention center had failed, saying the Navy and Coast Guard premises cannot host them.

"Search for the dinghy continued for hours but in vain at first as it was moving then stopping at sea. Later at Sunday dawn, the patrol managed to find the dinghy with 71 immigrants onboard." The Navy said in a statement.

The 71 immigrants were all men - 27 from Sudan, 15 from Egypt, 3 from Palestine and Syria, 25 from Pakistan - and their rubber boat was 45 miles off northern Al-Khums.