Rome (dpa) - The 356 migrants on board the Ocean Viking rescue ship will be taken to Malta and then all relocated to other European countries, the Maltese government announced on Friday.

The migrants, stranded aboard a rescue ship for nearly two weeks after being refused port entry in Italy, will be transferred to a Maltese Armed Forces boat and brought to Malta, Prime Minister Joseph Muscat said.

According to the deal - struck after talks with the EU Commission - they will then be relocated to six other EU member states: France, Germany, Ireland, Luxembourg, Portugal and Romania.

“None of the migrants will remain in Malta,” Muscat added.