Egypt urges lifting embargo to arm Libya forces

Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry told fellow diplomats that Libya’s internationally recognised government needed to be better armed to take on militias who have seized large parts of the country.

Cairo — Egypt called on Wednesday on the United Nations to lift an arms embargo on Libya as Cairo pushes for greater international efforts to combat militants in its war-torn neighbour.

In talks in New York ahead of a UN Security Council meeting, Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry told fellow diplomats that Libya’s internationally recognised government needed to be better armed to take on militias who have seized large parts of the country.

Sameh is calling on the Security Council to “assume its responsibilities in regards to the deteriorating situation in Libya” and to “reconsider the restrictions imposed on the Libyan government on arms deliveries,” the ministry said in a statement.

He also “underlined the need to allow countries in the region... to support the Libyan government’s efforts to impose its authority and restore stability”.

Libya’s internationally recognised government claims its efforts to control the country have been hobbled by a UN arms embargo imposed at the start of the 2011 uprising that ousted and killed dictator deposed Libyan President late Muamar Al  Gaddafi .

Libya has since descended into chaos, with the government forced to flee to the country’s east and militias in control of Tripoli and other main cities.

Shoukry, who the ministry said had met with the UN envoys of the five permanent members of the Security Council, also called for steps to be taken “to prevent armed and terrorist groups from obtaining weapons illegally”.