Libya expels aid groups accused of 'African' population plot

Libyan authorities have accused aid groups of plotting to change the country's ethnic make-up by encouraging African migrants to stay there, and has ordered some of them to close their offices.

Ten groups were criticised - including Doctors Without Borders, the UN refugee agency, and Norwegian Refugee Council.

"This plan to settle migrants of African origin in our country represents a hostile act. It aims to change the demographic composition of the country and threatens the balance of Libyan society," said Internal Security Authority spokesman Salem Gheit on Thursday.

It echoes a similar announcement made by Tunisia two years ago, which was swiftly condemned as anti-black racism.

Both nations sit on the Mediterranean coast and are key transit points for African migrants crossing the sea to Europe.

Since the overthrow of Libya's leader Muammar Gaddafi in 2011 there has been a breakdown in government, allowing armed militias and human-traffickers to proliferate.

The country has been divided into two, each run by a rival istration.

Militiamen have been accused of running detention centres where migrants are beaten to death or starved, and the Libyan coastguard is accused of sometimes filming people in the sea rather than rescuing them. The Libyan authorities have not commented on these accusations.

Thursday's order to expel the aid groups was made by the internationally recognised government based in the capital, Tripoli.