TRIPOLI - LIBYA has decided to suspend cooperation with Europe in the fight against illegal immigration, state television reported on Sunday, quoting a security official.
'Libya has decided not to be responsible over the illegal immigration to Europe,' the television cited the official as saying.
The decision follows air strikes and the unleashing of barrages of Tomahawk missiles at Libyan targets on Saturday by the United States, Britain and France after a UN Security Council resolution with Arab backing authorised military action to stop Muammar Gaddafi's forces attacking pro-democracy rebels.
The European Commission in October offered Libya up to 50 million euros (S$89.8 million) in aid to stop the flow of illegal migrants to Europe and protect refugees.
Libya alone has 2,000km of coastline and twice as much in borders with north African neighbours.
Boats carrying thousands of undocumented migrants, mainly Tunisians, have landed on the Italian island of Lampedusa in recent weeks putting a heavy strain on Italy's immigration infrastructure and leading to pleas for EU assistance. -- AFP
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