09/06/2010 (Agence Europe) - Last week, the Libyan authorities ordered the UN high commissioner for refugees (UNHCR) to leave the country, an HCR spokesman told the press on Tuesday 8 June. In a press release, the Libyan minister for foreign affairs throws responsibility onto the HCR, underlining that, on several occasions, Tripoli has been firm with UN representatives about what it sees as the UN agency's “illegal” presence in Tripoli. The consequences of the decision are considerable for 9,000 people with refugee status in Libya, in addition to 3,700 asylum seekers. The European Commission has stated its concern about the negative impact that the decision will have and plans to contact the Libyan authorities in an attempt to settle the matter. (B.C./transl.jl)