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Italy accused of bribing Libyan militias to stop migrants reaching EuropeRome refuses to comment on claims that millions of dollars have changed hands during last year, as arrivals to Italy fall dramaticallyFriday 25 August 2017 09:00 UTCZAWIYA, Libya - Until recently, the shores of Zawiya, west of Tripoli, were teeming with bodies and trade – the crossroads for much of Libya’s human trafficking.But over the last few weeks, the trade has come to a standstill.Arrivals to Italy from North Africa have dropped by more than half on last year’s figures, with Reuters reporting on Monday that an armed group was preventing migrant boats from setting off from Zawiya.Investigations by Middle East Eye reveal that the armed groups are receiving pay-offs to stop the boats leaving Libya, in exchange for aid, aircraft hangars and large sums of money. This area belongs to Libya only formally, but it has its non-written rules and its rules are in the hands of militias and several groups of armed gangsA few weeks after Italy implemented a controversial code of conduct in the Mediterranean, the coast along Zawiya has fallen silent. Continued: http://www.middleeasteye.net/news/libyan-militias-being-bribed-stop-migrants-crossing-europe-2107168893
