Tripoli - Having balked at Egypt's call for military intervention in Libya, the international community faces a daunting task to find a political solution to the lawless North African country's crisis, analysts say.
Roiled by turmoil ever since the NATO-backed ouster of dictator Moamer Kadhafi in 2011, Libya's security has continued to deteriorate, prompting calls for an easing of an arms embargo to help the internationally recognised government regain some control.
The beheading this week of 21 mainly Egyptian Coptic Christians by the Islamic State group sparked Cairo to launch air strikes against the jihadists in Libya and call for an international coalition to hit IS.
But Western and Arab states have flinched at the suggestion of force, and UN envoy Bernardino Leon told the UN Security Council Wednesday that the only cure for Libya's trauma was political.
Claudia Gazzini of the International Crisis Group said a political accord would be "difficult, but not impossible to achieve."
"The international community must stay focused on supporting the dialogue efforts and resist calls to lift the arms embargo," the analyst said.
Libya is awash with weapons and rival militias are battling for control of its cities and oil wealth. It has two rival governments and parliaments, one recognised by the international community and the other with ties to Islamists.
Any additional weapons could strengthen the divisive General Khalifa Haftar, whose forces are fighting Islamist militias in battles that widen the gulf between competing factions.
One UN diplomat said lifting the arms embargo would be tantamount to pouring fuel on the fire.
Since launching efforts at dialogue in September, Leon has been unable to bring together leading players from rival camps.
The UN envoy's best achievement so far has been to begin "indirect" talks last week between the internationally recognised government and the General National Congress, which is under the leadership of the Islamist Fajr Libya militia currently controlling the capital Tripoli.
But observers believe efforts to bridge the gap between the two sides will fail so long as their respective armed factions -- Haftar for the elected government and Fajr Libya for the GNC -- are not at the same table.
AFP
