Special to WorldTribune.com

The political arm of the Libya Dawn faction which controls Tripoli has threatened to ship hundreds of thousands of migrants to Europe unless Europe recognizes it as Libya’s legitimate government.

The threat came from officials of the National Salvation Government, affiliated with Libya’s General National Congress, according to the UK’s Telegraph.

“We are protecting the gates of Europe, yet Europe does not recognize us and does not want to recognize us. So why should we stop the migrants here?” asked Jamal Zubia, foreign media spokesman for the National Salvation Government.

Libya Dawn seized control of Tripoli last year from the internationally recognized government the House of Representatives. United Nations brokered talks have failed to end hostilities between the two rival factions in Libya.

Zubia said the government spends millions on detention centers and repatriation programs for the migrants.

“To be honest, I have advised my government many times already that we should hire boats and send them to Europe,” Zubia said.

Experts say a fresh influx of migrants from Libya would make an already devastating crisis worse.

Earlier this week, the UN said more than 218,000 migrants and refugees crossed the Mediterranean to Europe in October – the highest monthly figure since the crisis erupted.

  Libya Dawn, Libyan faction’s threat: ‘Why should we stop the migrants here?’, National Salvation Government, WorldTribune.com