Egypt urges int’l community to intervene against IS in Libya

Egypt urges int’l community to intervene against IS in Libya

PanARMENIAN.Net - Egypt has called on the international community to intervene against Islamic State (IS) militants in Libya, BBC News reports.

President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi said that what was happening in Libya was a threat to world peace and security. His remarks came as Egyptian jets bombed IS targets in response to a militant video of the apparent beheadings of 21 Egyptian Christians.

Libya has been in chaos since 2011, with militias battling for control of territory and two rival governments.

However, the BBC says, there is little international appetite for military involvement and the emphasis remains on trying to find a political and diplomatic solution to the country's problems.

Sisi spoke by phone to French President Francois Hollande and Italian Prime Minister Matteo Renzi about the Libya situation. He has also sent Foreign Minister Sameh Shukri to New York for consultations with UN officials.

"What is happening in Libya is a threat to international peace and security," the president said.

The Egyptian Foreign Ministry said in a statement quoted by the AP that "immediate and effective" action was needed and maintaining the status quo constituted a "clear danger". It also urged the US-led coalition conducting air strikes against IS in Iraq and Syria to give political and material support to Egypt.

Meanwhile, the Egyptian ambassador to the UK, Nasser Kamel, told the BBC that Libya was a problem for Europe in particular because of its closeness to Italy.

"[There are] boat people who go for immigration purposes and try to cross the Mediterranean," he said. "In the next few weeks if we do not act together, there will be boats full of terrorists also."

Italy has said it is prepared to lead an international force in Libya, but only if rival factions can be persuaded to cease fighting. Renzi's office said after the talks with Sisi that the two sides agreed that the next moves should be diplomatic.

Egyptian state TV said the air strikes - at dawn on Monday - had targeted camps, training sites and weapons storage areas.

Libyan officials said Egypt hit targets in the militant-held city of Derna and had been coordinated with the country's internationally recognized government. Between 40 and 50 people had been killed, they said.

 Top stories
Authorities said a total of 192 Azerbaijani troops were killed and 511 were wounded during Azerbaijan’s offensive.
In 2023, the Azerbaijani government will increase the country’s defense budget by more than 1.1 billion manats ($650 million).
The bill, published on Monday, is designed to "eliminate the shortcomings of an unreasonably broad interpretation of the key concept of "compatriot".
The earthquake caused a temporary blackout, damaged many buildings and closed a number of rural roads.
Partner news
---