Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi has accused European states of killing hundreds of African migrants by deliberately sinking their boats to stop them reaching Europe. "This tragedy is unfolding. A war on the Mediterranean sea is being waged against Africans," Gaddafi told leaders of African trade unions he met in Tripoli late on Thursday.
The outspoken Libyan leader's remarks were carried by the Libyan state news agency Jana on Friday. It was the first time he had made such allegations and he did not name any country in particular. The European Union's executive Commission declined to comment.
Migrant advocacy groups say many migrants die from starvation or drown after overloaded boats sink. "Europe seeks to defend itself and is doing anything it can to prevent migrants from reaching Europe. So they hit the boat and then announce all the people on board died," he said.
"They sometimes come to pretend to rescue a boat but they overturn it in order that the migrant workers on board die." Libya is the main springboard for African migrants attempting to sail to Italy - the main sea route for illegal migrants to spread into Europe. Migrant advocacy groups estimate about 100,000 migrants cross to Italy each year.
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