(06.09.) More than 1,200 African migrants stranded in a southern Libyan desert town held by forces loyal to the fallen leader fear for their lives and must be evacuated as quickly as possible, the International Organization for Migration said.

The IOM called on all sides to protect the workers, mainly from Chad but also Niger, Somalia, Eritrea and Nigeria, until they can be safely evacuated from its transit centre in Sabha. The group includes women and children.