The Italian Navy says it rescued more than 300 migrants off the coast of the Sicilian island of Lampedusa.<br/> <br />The navy said in a statement it decided to intercept one dinghy - carrying about 100 people - after the weather deteriorated on Wednesday.<br/> <br />Another group of migrants were rescued later that evening.<br/> <br />The group was transferred onto a navy ship - and will be transported to a port in Sicily on Thursday.<br/> <br />Hundreds of people have died in October trying to reach Lampedusa by boat from North Africa.<br/> <br />More than 32,000 migrants from Africa and the Middle East have arrived in Italy and Malta so far this year - prompting Italy to step up its patrols to spot migrant boats in the Mediterranean.<br/> <br />Italy plans to request reform of European asylum policy - to handle the crisis.
