Operations near Libya risky, says Frontex chief - update

(ANSA) - Brussels, March 6 - Frontex Executive Director Fabrice Leggeri admitted Friday that migrant operations near the Libya coast were risky after cases of human traffickers threatening Italian coast guard vessels. "The Italian authorities have taken steps to reinforce security and mitigate the risk," Leggeri told ANSA. "I can't go into specifics because its sensitive information. "We had an exchange of opinions on this with the EU member States. But that doesn't mean where won't be incidents tomorrow.
    There is a risk near to the Libyan coast". Frontex coordinates the EU's Triton operation in the southern Mediterranean, which replaced Italy's better-funded Mare Nostrum migrant-search-and-rescue programme last year.