National Security Minister Carmelo Abela reiterated this morning there was no need for undue alarm over the country's state of security, insisting he adopted "a realistic" approach.

The security forces had their eyes open as a precaution, he told Labour Party delegates at the general conference meeting in Hamrun.

"The country's geographical position necessitates that we have to always be careful and with our eyes open but not alarmist," Mr Abela said.

This was the third time in as many days the minister has had to allay fears after rumours spread like wildfire on Friday that Malta faced a specific terrorist threat.

Speculation was fuelled by an internal army decision to increase the armed state of its soldiers. This meant the type of weapons carried around by soldiers were upgraded but the country's general alert level has not increased.

The speculation followed the terrorist attack on the Corinthia Hotel in Tripoli last week.

Labour MEP Miriam Dalli told delegates she would continue to insist at European level for Libya to be placed high on the agenda because the situation there created instability.

The Labour Party week-long general conference comes to an end this morning with a speech by Prime Minister Joseph Muscat.

The running theme is Optimism with various speakers touching on what they describe as the new-found optimism in the country since Labour's election in March 2013.

Earlier, Labour MP Marlene Farrugia told delegates her ideology was neither "left or right". "My ideology is doing what is correct (is-sewwa)."

Dr Farrugia has been a vocal dissenter on the government's backbench even though she has always toed the party line. She is also the only MP from both sides of the House who has declared her intention to vote No in the upcoming spring hunting referendum.

Her comments were picked up by Energy Minister Konrad Mizzi, who said it was important to continue to listen to different ideas and not be isolated.