#InTheNews: Ceasefire Called For In Libya By US And EU Partners

Sunday, 19 October 2014

#InTheNews: Ceasefire Called For In Libya By US And EU Partners

An immediate and quick end to the fighting in Libya has been called for by the US and four European allies- France, Germany, Italy and Britain.

This was contained in a statement released which said that Libya’s hard-fought freedom was at risk if the country continued to be a safe haven for Libyan and international terrorist groups. It also said there was no military solution to the crisis. It continued, saying that the country’s security challenges could only be addressed by regular armed forces accountable to a democratic government and also expressed concern over an operation started on Wednesday by retired general Khalifa Haftar against Islamist rebels.

Islamist militant groups including Ansar al-Sharia, listed as a terrorist organisation by countries including the US, have been battling government forces, and have driven newly elected parliament members into hiding. Recently, dozens of people have been killed in the eastern city of Benghazi in fighting between government forces and Islamist rebels.