TRIPOLI: Libya will make no exceptions in its drive to expel illegal immigrants and any recruitment of foreign labour in future must be done through legal channels, an official said on Sunday. Libya said on Wednesday it had started deporting illegal immigrants, a community of up to two million, mostly men from poor African states who are trying to reach Europe.

Tripoli is under pressure at home to tackle the problem of illegal immigrants whom officials and locals blame for spreading crime and taking jobs from unemployed young Libyans.

Mohamed El-Lamoushi, head of the information department at the prime minister’s office, said that the move was an internal Libyan matter, adding that future recruitment of foreign workers would be carried out under accords Libya had recently signed with labour-exporting countries.

“All the procedures (of expulsion) must be finished in one month and there will be no exceptions. Foreigners who want to enter Libya must have legal papers and documents,” he said.

Lamoushi said the Ministry of Manpower was ready to supply different economic sectors in Libya with needed labour.—Reuters