File Photo: Egyptians cross from Libya to Egypt through the Salloum land port gate on Tuesday, Feb. 22, 2011 (Photo: AP)
Egyptian authorities succeeded in freeing 35 Egyptians detained in eastern Libya over charges of illegal immigration and vagrancy following negotiations with Libyan authorities., Egypt's ambassador to Libya Hisham El-Naqib said on Wednesday.
The ambassador said those released included eight women and two children.
Libya has been a major destination for Egyptians seeking work abroad for decades.
According to a 2010 report by the International Organisation for Migration, some 1.5 million Egyptians were working in Libya at the time.
However, the number of Egyptian expats in the country fell sharply after the NATO-backed Libyan uprising in 2011, which saw the ouster and death of long-time Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi.
Egypt shares a 1,200 kilometre border with Libya, which has posed a security concern for Egypt in recent years, with smugglers crossing it to get weapons and militants in and out of the country.
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