AN ITALIAN navy ship docked at the Albanian port of Shengjin today to bring the first group of 16 migrants intercepted in international waters.

The naval ship Libra left the port of Lampedusa on Monday with 16 men — 10 from Bangladesh and six from Egypt — who were rescued at sea after departing from Libya, a ministry spokesman said.

Last week Italy formally opened two centres in Albania where it plans to process thousands of asylum-seekers outside its borders.