Malta has refused a request by the Libyan government for help ahead of an EU summit which will discuss the upheaval in the North African country.

EU heads of government are due to discuss Libya at an emergency summit tomorrow (Friday).

Speaking after a meeting with EU Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso in Brussels, Prime Minister Lawrence Gonzi said that both Libyan Prime Minister Mahmudi Bagdadi and Mr Gaddafi’s emissary Under-Secretary for International Cooperation Mohammed Taher Siyala, who came to Malta yesterday, asked for help with the EU.

Malta replied that the Libyan authorities that this was not a matter of mediation and the government had to listen to the wishes of the Libyan people, Dr Gonzi said.

He also emphasised that the violence in Libya has to stop.

Humanitarian assistance to the Libyan people was also discussed in this evening's meeting.