UN experts say arms trafficking from Libya fuels conflicts

PanARMENIAN.Net - UN experts say arms trafficking from Libya is fueling conflict, insecurity and terrorism on several continents, the Associated Press reports.

Since civil war ousted longtime ruler Moammar Gadhafi in 2011, the experts said "Libya has become a primary source of illicit weapons."

In a report to the UN Security Council obtained Wednesday, the panel of experts said it is investigating the alleged transfer of weapons to 14 countries in violation of a UN arms embargo.

The experts said they have documented the transfer of Libyan shoulder-fired anti-aircraft missiles to terrorist groups in Mali and Tunisia, and to others in Chad, Lebanon and "potentially" the Central African Republic.

They said Lebanon's seizure of a Syria-bound ship in April 2012 proved that there were attempts to transfer such missiles to the Syrian opposition from Libya.