Libyan Prime Minister Ali Zeidan yesterday connected Libya’s problems of internal security with the trouble it is having to act effectively on irregular migration, as he made a fresh plea for help from Europe.

“We are doing our utmost and will continue to do so in our attempt to secure our borders and the areas from where immigrants leave but we are in the same situation (as southern European states) when it comes to illegal immigration. We have not opened the door to this problem,” Mr Zeidan said.

He was fielding questions about the latest migrant tragedy at a joint-press conference with Maltese Prime Minister Joseph Muscat just after a meeting between the two at the Corinthia Bab Africa Hotel in Tripoli.

Dr Muscat picked up the point made by his counterpart and insisted that the issue of migration in Libya should be discussed in light of the country’s wider security and stability concerns.

He said Mr Zeidan had put to him serious proposals where Europe could help with security training and access to the EU’s satellite system, for instance.

He would be relaying this message at the forthcoming EU summit dealing with the subject next week.

Survivors from Friday’s tragedy, in which dozens were killed when a boat with more than 250 refugees capsized some 120 miles off Malta, claimed they had come under fire after they left the Libyan port town of Zuwara and that an armed group chased them at sea into international waters.

Some of the survivors claimed the group were militiamen while others said they believed they were from the Libyan Navy.

Mr Zeidan said the authorities in Tripoli were investigating the claim but that preliminary investigations indicated the navy had nothing to do with the incident.

“Should it turn out to be true, Libya will acknowledge it,” he said.

Dr Muscat flew out for yesterday’s meeting with a delegation that included Foreign Minister George Vella, in a symbolic visit of a few hours intended to show solidarity with Mr Zeidan and his government after he was abducted by militiamen last week in what was described as an attempted coup.

Dr Muscat said Malta wanted to send a message that it was behind the Libyan people’s efforts to build a democratic state where the rule of law was paramount.

“We know that the majority of Libyan people do not believe that might is right or that political leadership should be removed with weapons. Governments should only be removed through elections,” he said.

We are a small boat in an ocean and are trying to stabilise this boat

Earlier during the meeting Mr Zeidan said he appreciated the Maltese gesture and felt that it helped take relations between the two governments to a whole new level.

The weekend’s tragedy was a focal point in the discussions.

However, during the press conference, Mr Zeidan was also asked about the oil deal Libya signed with Malta. In September the two countries signed a memorandum of understanding under which Libya will sell oil to Malta at preferential rates. Since then, however, the deal has been stalled as oil production in Libya came to a near standstill due to continued strikes at oil fields across the country.

Mr Zeidan said that a committee within the country’s Congress set up to tackle the strikes had been making good progress and was likely close to a solution.

“We hope exports will start again shortly,” he said, addressing both the foreign and local press, which has been raising concerns about the serious economic damage that the production shortfalls were having on the country.

He said outsiders should appreciate the complexity of Libya’s situation following the war as he restated the confidence of his government that the country would manage to regain stability and restore oil production levels.

“This is a revolution with huge implications across all levels. It needs time. We should prepare ourselves for this. But we are very optimistic and very hopeful Libya will get through this crisis,” he said.

“Libya is still a State with a Congress and an army. We are challenged by assassinations and explosions but we are determined. We are a small boat in an ocean and are trying to stabilise this boat. As long as the boat is moving, even if slowly, we will be fine.

“Some ask how long do we have to wait? I say you waited 40 years. Now we are moving ahead with our new gained freedom,” he said.