Borg told the Malta Times newspaper an interior ministers meeting on illegal migration due to be held in Malta this week has been postponed at the request of European Union Justice Commissioner Franco Frattini.

Frattini, who had been expected to attend, delayed the session to allow for a technical meeting between the countries to assess Libya's involvement in the patrols, Borg said.

He said Frattini had told him the Libyan government was "seriously considering" joining the sea patrols if there was assistance from the EU to help Libya monitor its desert borders.

"It does not mean that Libya has accepted the sea patrols, but now it is at least considering joining them, provided it receives assistance for the desert patrols," Borg said.

Libya had so far refused to join the patrols.

The sea patrols, under EU border agency Frontex, are due to begin later this month in an effort to discourage migrants from crossing the Mediterranean northward to Italy and Malta from Libya.

More than 10,000 migrants looking for jobs or fleeing political repression have arrived this year at the Italian island Lampedusa. Malta is also straining under the weight of illegal immigrants who land on its beaches.

Most of the migrants who cross the Mediterranean arrive in Libya from sub-Saharan Africa, cross the desert and then leave on boats from the North African shoreline.