Скачать или смотреть Dozens killed in boat sinking off Libya coast as official threatens EU to take action

At least 40 people were killed when a boat carrying mostly sub-Saharan African migrants sank off Libya's coast east of Tripoli, the Libyan government said on Sunday (May 11).

At least 50 others were rescued, although dozens are left unaccounted for.

Reuters reports, "the vessel appeared to have got into difficulty around 37 miles (60 km) east of Tripoli, Rami Kaal, a spokesman for the Libyan ministry of interior said.

"Libya's porous borders with its sub-Saharan neighbours and its proximity to Italy and Malta across the Mediterranean have made the North African country a common transit route for migrants trying to reach Europe.

"With their coast guard, navy and armed forces ill-equipped and still in training, Libyan officials want more help from Western partners to stem the flow of illegal migrants trying to cross through Libya to Europe.

"Many migrants pay more than $1,000 to criminal gangs for the sea journey from Libya, where the government struggles to control a country still full of weapons and brigades of former rebels since the civil war that ousted Muammar Gaddafi in 2011."

Interior Minister Salah Mazeq has threatened to "facilitate" the passage of migrants and "flood Europe" with them unless the countries helped Libya fix the problem.

"I warn the world, especially the European Union, unless they assume their responsibility ... we warn that Libya could facilitate the passage of this flood (of illegal migrants) and fast," Mazeq said.