Libya is in a state of anarchy and the situation there has to be tackled with “great urgency”, according to Prime Minister Joseph Muscat.

At a meeting with the UN High Commissioner for Refugees Antonio Guterres, the Prime Minister urged the UN to intervene in Libya.

However, he insisted that the type of intervention had to be determined with the Libyan people.

“We believe in an inclusive solution to the anarchy in Libya that takes into account the will of the Libyan people as expressed in elections but also recognises the realities on the ground,” Dr Muscat said.

Libya has descended into complete chaos after Islamic militants aligned with militias from Misurata overran the capital Tripoli, setting up their own parliament and government.

The situation there cannot be seen as totally unrelated to what is happening in Syria and Iraq even if on a completely different scale

The legitimately elected House of Representatives has been forced to meet in the eastern city of Tobruk but it is powerless to enforce decisions.

Since the ousting of dictator Muammar Gaddafi three years ago, Libya has not had a functioning national army and police, with security in the hands of militias that have turned on each other to secure resources and influence.

Dr Muscat yesterday reiterated government concerns that the chaotic situation in Libya could pave the way for extremists from Islamic State (formerly known as Isis), a group of brutal radicals that has controlled large swathes of land in Iraq and Syria, infiltrating Libya.

“The situation there cannot be seen as totally unrelated to what is happening in Syria and Iraq even if on a completely different scale,” Dr Muscat warned.

He added that the security situation in Libya and illegal immigration were not unrelated because the lack of rule of law allowed criminal gangs to do as they pleased.

The UN security council is set to discuss the situation in Libya later this month and the US is organising a workshop on Libya for aid partners in Malta.