The Austrian Home Affairs Minister has indicated that her country would take up to 6,000 immigrants from Libya, although she doubted that there would be an influx of migrants of 'biblical proportions' as Italy is expecting.

Speaking in a state radio interview, MsFecker said she did not expect a wave of 300,000 migrants from Libya but if there were persecutions where masses would have to leave Libya, or Egypt and Tunisia, then Europe would have to respond. In such a scenario, Austria would be in a position to take some 5000 or 6000 refugees.

The minister said that she is in principle not against an EU troop intervention in Libya as long as its scope is well defined beforehand. As possible reasons of such an intervention Ms Fekter mentioned protection of the coastline and border security.

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