Parliament in Libya has ordered the temporary closure of southern borders and declared seven southern regions restricted military areas to stem the flow of illegal immigrants and goods.
The BBC reports there was no indication of how long borders with Chad, Niger, Sudan and Algeria would remain shut.
Southern regions of Libya have struggled with lawlessness since Colonel Muammar Gaddafi was toppled last year.
Suad Ganur MP said the situation had deteriorated recently because of possible international military action in northern Mali.
She also told AFP news agency that there had been an "upsurge in violence and drug trafficking, and the presence of armed groups that act with complete impunity".
The decree said the southern regions of Ghadames, Ghat, Obari, Al-Shati, Sebha, Murzuq and Kufra would be "considered as closed military zones to be ruled under emergency law".
A BBC correspondent said it is unclear what the decree means in practice because most provinces and cities effectively rule themselves.
There was little sign of any change after the government declared a military area in the mountains near the western city of Zintan earlier this year.
