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August 28, 2014

Libya Warns of "Full-Scale Civil War" as Militia Fighting Continues 
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The Libyan government is warning of a full-scale civil war unless
heavily-armed militias are brought under control. Libya has been roiled
by fighting among rival militias following the U.S.-backed ouster of
Muammar Gaddafi in 2011. On Sunday, Islamist militias claimed control of
the Libyan capital Tripoli after taking over the main airport. On
Wednesday, Libyan ambassador Ibrahim Dabbashi told the U.N. Security
Council his country risks descending into a "full-blown civil war if
we're not very careful." Warning of a "mounting danger," the outgoing
U.N. envoy to Libya, Tarek Mitri said more than 100,000 people have been
displaced since the conflict escalated last month.

Tarek Mitri: "The threat from the spread of terrorist groups has become
real. Their presence and activities in a number of Libyan cities are
known to all. At present, the chaotic security situation and the very
limited capacity of the government to counter the threat may well have
created a fertile ground for a mounting danger in Libya and beyond."

 

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