A detachment of 46 officers and men from various sections of the Armed Forces of Malta has arrived in Libya to train Libyan forces.

The detachment arrived in Tripoli harbour this morning on board patrol boat P61.

The soldiers form part of the AFM's Maritime Squadron, 1st Regiment and the Explosives Ordnance Disposal Unit.

The training will focus on border control. Training will include joint diving activities, ship boarding drill, patrols and search operations.

This is the first bilateral training mission since the recent Libyan uprising.

The detachment was welcomed by senior Libyan naval officers. The Libyan officers were greeted on board P-61 by Lt Col Andrew Mallia and the Captain of P61, Captain R Caruana.

Later today the Armed Forces of Malta will be hosting a reception on board P61 for various Libyan dignitaries on behalf of the Maltese Ambassador to Libya.