The United Nations security council has authorised European Union naval operations off the coast of Libya to discourage groups of people traffickers from smuggling migrants to Europe. <br /><br /> All members of the council with one exception voted in favour of the UK-drafted resolution: Venezuela abstained. <br /><br /> The British ambassador Matthew Rycroft welcomed the approval.<br /><br /> “These groups have no respect for human life. They exploit those taking the perilous journey across the Mediterranean. They overfill poorly maintained boats, ill-suited to such a difficult crossing. And, they abandon their passengers at the first sign of trouble,” said Rycroft.<br /><br /> The one-year operation will seize and dispose of boats operated by human traffickers setting off from Libya. <br /><br /> It will not cover the route refugees have been using to flee fighting in Iraq and Syria through Turkey, Greece and the Balkans.
