Italy and Libya have been accused of abusing the human rights of African migrants trying to enter the EU.

The New York-based Human Rights Watch (HRW) group says Libyan and Italian authorities have forcibly repatriated thousands of foreigners.

Some of those faced possible persecution or torture in their home countries, HRW says in a new report.

The group says the Italian deportations took place under former Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi.

The detailed 135-page report documents how the Libyan authorities forcibly repatriated about 145,000 foreigners between 2003 and 2005.

Many of them were submitted to beatings and arbitrary arrest.

Those forcibly returned to Eritrea or Somalia faced possible persecution or torture, Human Rights Watch said.

BBC article here