Tripoli/Washington, D.C. - More than 600 migrants from sub-Saharan Africa are effectively stranded at a port just outside the Libyan capital, and have been left to fend for themselves by Libyan authorities. Despite repeated attacks, harassment, and arbitrary arrests by Libyan gangs over the course of four months, they have received no protection from the National Transitional Council (NTC). Refugees International calls on the NTC and all local authorities - including the civilian councils in Janzour and Tripoli, and the Tripoli Military Council - to intervene immediately to protect the population at Sidi Bilal port and ensure their safe relocation to a temporary site.

(Zintan, Libya) - Rebel forces in Libya should protect civilians and civilian property in areas they control, Human Rights Watch said today. The rebel forces should hold accountable anyone from their ranks responsible for looting, arson, and abuse of civilians in recently captured towns in western Libya. In four towns captured by rebels in the Nafusa Mountains over the past month, rebel fighters and supporters have damaged property, burned some homes, looted from hospitals, homes, and shops, and beaten some individuals alleged to have supported government forces, Human Rights Watch said.

Nearly 200 African migrants were feared drowned on Tuesday after a boat carrying them to Saudi Arabia caught fire off Sudan's northeastern coast, a semiofficial news agency reported.

Three people were rescued, the news agency, the Sudan Media Center, reported. The boat had departed from Red Sea State, one of Sudan's 26 states, and sailed for four hours in Sudanese territorial waters before the fire broke out, the news agency said.

The week from 20-26 June is Refugee Week, celebrated by many people across the UK, including a wide number of voluntary and refugee organisations seeking to "discover and celebrate the contributions refugees bring to the UK". [1] 2011 also marks the 60th anniversary of the signing of the UN Convention on Refugees.