- 26 minutes ago
- Africa
Libya has criticised EU proposals to authorise the use of force against people smugglers taking migrants across the Mediterranean to Europe.
The Libyan ambassador to the UN told the BBC that the EU's intentions were unclear and "very worrying".
The EU is seeking a UN mandate to allow military action to destroy or halt smugglers' boats in Libyan waters.
The measures are part of the EU's proposed plans to stop migrants drowning in the Mediterranean.
The UN estimates that 60,000 people have already tried to cross the Mediterranean this year, with more than 1,800 dying making the journey.
Other plans being discussed include expanding maritime rescue services and introducing a quota system for distributing asylum seekers within the EU.
The European Commission is expected to propose the quota system on Wednesday, along with plans to increase legal means for migrants to come to Europe so that they do not turn to smugglers.
A quota system would need to be agreed by EU states and is highly controversial, with many EU countries fiercely opposed.
'Left in the dark'
EU foreign policy chief Federica Mogherini is taking her case for international intervention in Libya to the UN Security Council in New York later on Monday.
However, Libya's ambassador to the UN, Ibrahim Dabbashi, told the BBC that his country was against the proposal.
"The Libyan government has not been consulted by the European Union. They have left us in the dark about what their intentions are, what kind of military actions they are going to take in our territorial waters, so that is very worrying," he told the World Service's Newsday programme.
"We want to know... how they can distinguish between the fishers' boats and the traffickers' boats," he added.
Mediterranean migrants: in numbers
In 2014:
- 219,000 people arrived in Europe
- 3,500 deaths/missing
In 2015 (1 Jan- 27 April):
- 60,000 arrivals in Europe
- More than 1,800 deaths/missing
source: UNHCR
Rights group Amnesty International has warned that military action could leave migrants trapped in Libya in desperate conditions.
"Introducing measures to tackle smugglers without providing safe alternative routes out for the people desperate to flee conflict in Libya, will not resolve the plight of migrants and refugees," said Amnesty's Middle East and North Africa director Philip Luther.
Many migrants were being driven to make the journey across the Mediterranean due to "horrific abuse", including abduction, torture and rape in Libya, the group said in a new report.
One Syrian family interviewed said that they were left with no choice but to attempt the perilous voyage.
"We were facing death in Libya so we thought we might as well face death in trying to get to Italy."
More than 200,000 migrants fleeing conflict or poverty from countries such as Syria, Eritrea, Nigeria and Somalia are estimated to have crossed the Mediterranean last year, with thousands dying making the journey.
European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker has argued for "a system of relocation" for migrants throughout the European Union, without providing further details on how quotas for individual countries would be determined.
Germany keenly supports the idea of quotas, having received 200,000 asylum applications last year.
Countries such as Italy, Malta, Austria and Greece, where large numbers of migrants arrive by boat, have also called for EU members to share responsibility for migrants more evenly.
However, leaders in Hungary, Slovakia and Estonia have also objected to a quota system, with Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban calling it "a crazy idea".
The UK also says it will oppose any proposals to bring in non-voluntary quotas.
A UK government spokesman said: "The UK has a proud history of offering asylum to those who need it most, but we do not believe that a mandatory system of resettlement is the answer."
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