Libya deports over 100 illegal immigrants

TRIPOLI, Oct 15 (Xinhua): Libya's Immigration Control Department in the eastern city of Benghazi on Monday announced the deportation of more than 100 illegal immigrants to Egypt and Nigeria.

The department said that 98 immigrants of Egyptian nationality were deported from Benghazi to Egypt, and 13 Nigerian immigrants to their country.

The International Organisation for Migration said on Sunday that there are more than 650,000 illegal immigrants in Libya and about 6,000 of them are being held in detention centers, including women and children.

Thousands of illegal immigrants, mostly Africans, choose to cross the Mediterranean Sea towards Europe from Libya since the country has been mired in insecurity and chaos ever since the fall of its former leader Gaddafi in 2011.

Shelters in Libya are crowded with thousands of migrants rescued at sea or arrested by the Libyan security services.