BREAKING NEWS

Merkel says migrant deal with Libya needed, but not possible yet

BERLIN, Jan 28 - Europe should work with Libya to control illegal migration, but cannot sign a deal similar to that reached with Turkey last year until political stability is restored in the North African country, German Chancellor Angela Merkel said on Saturday.
Merkel said it was important to work with Libya given that more than 4,000 migrants had died in the Mediterranean while en route from Libya to Italy.
"At the moment we cannot sign an agreement like that concluded with Turkey," she said in a video podcast, adding that such an accord would only be possible when "the political situation has improved, when the unity government is really a unity government and has control over the entire country, and we can talk about human rights issues, standards and other issues."
Libya sank into chaos following the 2011 overthrow of veteran ruler Muammar Gaddafi, and the new UN-backed government in Tripoli exercises no control over its territory.