Funerals for 24 of more than 800 people killed when a migrant boat capsized on Sunday have been held in Malta
EU leaders meet in Brussels at an emergency summit on the growing migrant crisis in the Mediterranean
1,750 people are known to have died at sea so far this year, a huge rise on the same period last year
Italy says it is "at war" with migrant traffickers, and has urged the EU to take military action
The would-be migrants are attempting to flee war and poverty in the Middle East and Africa
We're starting to get a clearer picture of what led to Sunday's disastrous crossing, in which more than 800 people perished.
Many of the would-be migrants, according to Italian prosecutors, were subjected to beatings, with one young boy thrown overboard as they were transported to the fishing ship because he stood up without permission on the rubber dinghy, AP reports.
Gavin Lee
BBC News, Malta
tweets:, external From suicide bomber to Maltese migrant. Mohammed is a #migrant in Malta who fled Somalia. This is his story. http://bit.ly/1GlJFu0 , external(SoundCloud audio)
Donald Tusk, European council president
tweets:, external "Observing a minute of silence in remembrance of the victims of the recent tragedies in the #Mediterranean."
Image source, ReutersIn Malta, funerals have been held for 24 of those killed in Sunday's disaster.
Here, Selemauit Hagus Belay (centre) of Ethiopia cries as a hearse carrying the coffin of her Eritrean husband Ashih Tekleab Haile leaves Mater Dei Hospital outside the capital Valletta.
Image source, ReutersEstonia's Prime Minister Taavi Roivas has just arrived in Brussels with some strong comments.
"The EU is committed to stop this madness of human trafficking at our doorsteps".
"Co-operating with North African countries to destroy smugglers' boats and sending border guards and equipment to support Italy, Greece and Malta should be clear EU commitments," the EU's youngest head of government adds.
The BBC's Jasmine Coleman looks at proposals for military action to target people smugglers and alternative ideas to stop migrants dying at sea.
Image source, Getty ImagesCalls have mounted for a military response to the Mediterranean migrant crisis
"The proposals are a rehash of what we've heard in the past. What's different is there's more political willingness," Maltese Prime Minister Joseph Muscat is quoted as saying by The Times of Malta., external
"There's a changed political climate. Is it enough? It is never enough," he adds.
Gavin Lee
BBC News, Malta
tweets:, external "I used to be a wealthy Libyan army officer, now I live in a migrant centre, 10 men per room"- Alhassan on life in Malta"
Only 5,000 resettlement places across Europe are to be offered to refugees under the emergency summit crisis package to be agreed by EU leaders in Brussels on Thursday, the Guardian reports, quoting a confidential draft summit statement., external
Jack Garland
BBC News, Lampedusa, Italy
tweets, external: 'This migrant in Lampedusa told us he's a petroleum engineer fleeing war in Libya & dreaming of study in the UK' @Jackwgarland
Jonathan Beale
Defence correspondent, BBC News
writes: "Helicopters will be able to land on the ship, but as HMS Bulwark has no hanger to maintain them, the helicopters - probably three Merlins - will be based on land.
The MOD says they are still working through the detail, but one option is to station the helicopters on Malta. They will then be able to "lillypad" onto Bulwark whenever necessary.
"The MOD is not yet providing any detail of the Prime Minister's statement in Brussels that two patrol boats would also help in the operation. It's not yet certain that they'll be Royal Navy vessels."
BBC Outside Source
tweets:, external 'I'd rather stay in Libya than risk my life on boat to Europe' - Ghanaian man tells @BBCOS #MigrantCrisis http://bbc.in/1GmaIYU, external
Image source, otherFrench President Francois Hollande is now also in Brussels.
He says: "France asked for this European Council because there is a humanitarian situation that is unacceptable. The first decision expected is to reinforce Europe's presence at sea."
"The second decision is to fight against the traffickers who are often terrorists… who leave tens, hundreds of victims".
Mr Cameron also warns that Britain will require assurances that rescued migrants would not be able to come to the UK.
"Of course under the right conditions; that must include that people that we pick up and people we deal with are taken to the nearest safe country, most likely Italy, and don't have recourse to claim asylum in the UK," he says.
More from David Cameron.
He says: "Now of course saving lives means rescuing these poor people, but it also means smashing the gangs and stabilising the region. Now Britain as ever will help.
"We'll use our aid budget to help stabilise neighbouring countries and - as the country in Europe with the biggest defence budget - we can make a real contribution."
Ben James
World Have Your Say
tweets:, external Amazing to talk to mum Asafash & 14-year-old son Emanuel from Eritrea: reunited in #Malta, hear story on @BBC_WHYS, external
Image source, AFP / getty imagesBritish Prime Minister David Cameron has arrived at the summit.
He has said Britain is offering HMS Bulwark, three helicopters and two border patrol ships to bolster efforts to deal with the crisis.
Stuart Hughes
BBC News, Malta
I have met Mario Gauci, a manager of Hal Far migrant village.
"The problem has to be solved at source," Mr Gauci says.
"I think we need to stop them before they leave - the trip is too dangerous. I'm surprised they're still doing it.
"Malta is a very small island. Perhaps, offices need to be set up in African countries where asylum seekers can be processed. That would save a lot of deaths, I think."
One African migrant, Gassama, tells the BBC about his long journey from The Gambia through Libya to Europe.
He has even set up a Facebook page to try to dissuade others from making the hazardous trip through Libya.
Image source, Stephen FottrellGassama set up this Facebook group to dissuade fellow migrants from coming through Libya
Katya Adler
Europe editor
writes: "EU leaders will tread warily today. They'll phrase their public statements very carefully.
"There will be expressions of outrage at the human traffickers who put people on the boats in the first place, and an emphasis on the EU helping people caught in war zones, by supporting UN efforts at conflict resolution and government-building.
"Underlying this though is a drive to stop people trying to enter Europe in their hundreds of thousands."