Libya accused voluntary organisations of using illegal immigration for "propaganda purposes" in its first reaction to a damning report on human rights abuses in the detention centres of the North African state.
Foreign Minister Mousa Kousa refuted claims by illegal immigrants who made it to Malta and whose shocking stories were published in a report by the Jesuit Refugee Service in December.
The JRS report said the Libyan detention centres were "hopeless, dark, overcrowded and lacking basic sanitation and hygiene facilities". It also spoke of death, violence and racism being the order of the day in Libya and argued against the forced repatriation policy of rescued migrants adopted by Italy in agreement with Libya.
Migrants interviewed by the JRS claimed they were refused medical care and fed just two bread rolls a day while locked up in Libyan detention facilities. Though visibly uncomfortable when asked about the report, Mr Kousa was unfazed by the allegations.
He said Libya, with a population of six million, had two million illegal immigrants and insisted illegal immigration was Europe's problem.
"We are acting as guards to Europe and Libya might not be able to continue to do this. You don't know what the problem is. The problem is shouldered by Libya," he said.
Referring to non-governmental organisations working among immigrants, Mr Kousa said they were using the issue for "propaganda purposes" without offering any assistance to immigrants.
"We ask the NGOs to come to Libya and provide treatment, care and shelter to these immigrants. Libya provides such treatment and this is what we believe human rights are," he said, blaming Europe for the problem of illegal migration. It was not Libya's business what Malta did with its illegal immigrants, he added, and Libya was trying to relieve part of the burden.
"The rest of the EU member states are not interested and not paying attention to this problem," he said, adding this was the reason why Libya had to reach separate agreements with Italy and Malta.
The Libyan Foreign Minister was in Malta for the 26th meeting of the Malta-Libya joint commission. He was speaking at a joint press conference with Foreign Minister Tonio Borg.