The Benghazi-based Libyan Transitional Council has pledged to work on controlling the immigration problem but it will need help on the monitoring of Libya's southern border, from where the migrants enter Libya, Foreign Minister Tonio Borg said this evening.

Speaking on his return from talks with top council officials, including chairman Mahmoud Jibril,  Dr Borg said at the airport that Malta is considering offering a credit line to the council and allowing it to repay the loans by using frozen assets in Malta belonging to the Gaddafi-led Libyan government.

The US announced a similar system yesterday.

Dr Borg said Malta would continue to help Libya through humanitarian assistance in the form of healthcare as well as offer scholarships to Libyan students.

A number of patients arrived from Benghazi for treatment in Maltese hospitals earlier this month.

Last month the Maltese government recognised the council as the  "sole legitimate interlocutor of the Libyan people", severing contact Gaddafi's regime. However, full recognition has not been granted as first the government has to establish whether it can give the council the frozen assets belonging to the Libyan government.

Dr Borg said the council had requested three forms of assistance - humanitarian aid,funding and education.

It was not yet clear yet whether Malta would accept war casualties or send a medical team or medicines to Libya, he said. As for education, Malta would be offering a range of scholarships to Libyan students.

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