CAIRO: Libya’s internationally recognised government yesterday appealed for weapons to combat militias which have seized parts of the oil-rich but conflict-wracked nation, at an emergency meeting of the Arab League.
“We call on the international community to assume its legal and moral responsibilities and to arm, without further delay, the Libyan army,” said Libya’s representative to the Cairo-based Arab League, Ashur Bou Rashed.
More than three years after dictator Muammar Gaddafi was toppled and killed in a Nato-backed revolt, Libya is awash with weapons and powerful militias, and has rival governments and parliaments.
The internationally recognised government and parliament elected in June have been based in the remote east since an Islamist-backed militia coalition, Fajr Libya (Libya Dawn), seized Tripoli last year.
Fajr Libya also controls third city Misrata, while much of second city Benghazi is also in the hands of militias.
Bou Rashed insisted on the need to score a “military victory over the brutal militias to prevent them from further expanding their influence across Libya” and help reach a political solution.
His comments came as the United Nations postponed peace talks it was hoping to hold yeserday between Libya’s warring factions.
“The dialogue had been scheduled to take place. It did not,” said UN spokesman Stephane Dujarric.
UN envoy Bernardino Leon was consulting all sides to reach agreement on the timing and the venue for what would be the second round of meetings on the worsening turmoil in Libya.
Dujarric cited difficulties in finding a “venue that complies with all the security requirements” as one of the reasons for the delay. The talks, originally slated for December 9, have been repeatedly delayed because of escalating violence.
Arab League chief Nabil Al Arabi voiced regret at the latest postponement. “Our priority today is to adopt a decisive position that would lead to an immediate end to armed terrorist operations” in Libya, he said.
Several regional states fearful of a spillover, notably Niger and Chad, have called for international military intervention in Libya, but without gaining support from Western countries for such action.
The Arab League, in a statement at the end of its Cairo meeting, condemned “all attacks on institutions and economic installations” in Libya, notably its oil sector. In mid-December, Fajr Libya launched an assault to try to seize key oil terminals.
At least 22 pro-government forces were killed in fighting with the militias who fired a rocket that set ablaze tanks at Al Sidra oil terminal. The military retaliated by raiding Misrata.
Agencies
