UN passes resolution to sanction Islamist rebels in Libya

The United Nations Security Council on August 27 decided to impose sanctions on Islamist rebels in Libya as well as those who have supported this force in recent times.

Fajr Libya gunmen control the entrance to Tripoli airport. (Source: THX/TTXVN)

In a resolution unanimously adopted by all 15 member states, the Security Council called for an immediate ceasefire and imposed a tightening of the arms embargo.

The resolution also calls for a list of Libyan individuals to be sanctioned.

The list is expected to be drawn up by a sanctions committee meeting next week and those named will face asset freezes and travel bans.

The Security Council stated that the sanctions were imposed in an effort to help restore stability in Libya. The United Nations is determined to combat individuals and entities that threaten stability and the political transition in the North African country. Accordingly, all acts of human rights violations, attacks on Libyan ports, foreign missions, government buildings and illegal exports of crude oil to support rebel forces are subject to sanctions.

The move comes as Libya sinks deeper into turmoil due to disagreements between factions supporting the prime minister and the legislative council.

Over the weekend, Islamist militants seized Tripoli airport, deepening a crisis that has escalated since the 2011 overthrow of dictator Moamer Gaddafi.

In a speech to the Security Council, the head of the UN mission in Libya, Tarek Mitri, said the recent clashes in Libya were "unprecedentedly serious" and very alarming.

Libya's UN ambassador Ibrahim Dabbashi also warned that the situation had the potential to escalate into "a full-blown civil war."

In an effort to "untangle" the situation in Libya, on August 27, the Chief of General Staff of the Egyptian Army met with his Libyan counterpart to discuss the latest developments.

The sources did not say where the meeting took place, but said that Egyptian Lieutenant General Mahmoud Hegazy and Libyan Major General Abdel-Razik Al-Nazouri discussed possible cooperation between the two countries' militaries.

Earlier, at a press conference on July 26, Libyan Foreign Minister Mohamed Abdel-Aziz announced that Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi had offered to help Libya train military and police units in Egypt./.

According to VNA