TRIPOLI, May 14 (Xinhua) -- The International Organization for Migration (IOM) on Wednesday said that a total of 77 illegal immigrants have been intercepted at sea and returned to Libya over the past two weeks.

"Over the past two weeks, at least 650 migrants, who departed from Libyan shores, arrived in Italy and Malta, while 77 others were intercepted at sea and returned to the conflict-torn country," the IOM tweeted.

A total of 3,283 immigrants have been returned to Libya so far this year, while 17 died on the way and 129 others are missing, said the IOM.

It added that 9,225 immigrants have been returned to Libya in 2019, while 270 died on the way and 992 others went missing.

After the fall of the late leader Gaddafi's government in 2011, Libya has become a preferred point of departure for thousands of illegal immigrants hoping to cross the Mediterranean towards European shores.

The IOM has repeatedly called for an end to disembarkation of immigrants in Libya, due to the deteriorating security conditions in the country.

The east-based army has been leading a military campaign in and around Tripoli since April 2019 in an attempt to take over the city and topple the UN-backed government.

The fighting has killed and injured thousands of people, and displaced more than 150,000. Enditem

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