The African Union says it now plans to repatriate 20,000 African migrants in detention centres in government-controlled parts of Libya in the next six weeks – an increase on previous plans.

African governments are under pressure to act after TV reports showed sub-Saharan Africans being sold as slaves in the country.

The AU said it was working to organise consular services for stranded migrants and landing rights for planes to fly them out of Libya.

Some countries have already begun flying their citizens back home.