The Libyan navy today ordered foreign vessels to stay out of a coastal "search and rescue zone" for migrants headed for Europe, a measure it said targeted NGOs. "We want to send out a clear message to all those who infringe Libyan sovereignty and lack respect for the coastguard and navy," Libyan navy spokesman General Ayoub Qassem told a news conference in Tripoli. Libya has "officially declared a search and rescue zone", said Bouhaliya, without specifying the scope of the exclusion zone. Qassem said the measure was aimed against "NGOs which pretend to want to rescue illegal migrants and carry out humanitarian actions". He urged humanitarian organisations to "respect our will... and obtain authorisation from the Libyan state even for rescue operations".

Source: Libya Today August 10, 2017 16:52 UTC