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2nd LD Writethru: UNSC urges nations to fight terrorism in Libya

Xinhua, March 28, 2015 Adjust font size:

The UN Security Council on Friday urged member nations to combat terrorism in Libya and extended the UN mission in the country till Sept. 15, 2015.

In a unanimously adopted resolution, the council urges member states to combat terrorist acts "by all means," including those committed by the Islamic State; groups that pledged allegiance to it; Ansar al-Sharia; and anyone associated with al-Qaida operating in Libya.

Expressing grave concern about the negative impact of those groups' presence in Libya and the region, the Security Council emphasized the need for a comprehensive approach against them.

In this regard, the 15-nation body stressed the necessity of the full implementation of its relevant resolutions, including those related to groups listed above.

The resolution also emphasized the importance of providing support and assistance to the Libyan government and recognized the important roles of the African Union, the League of Arab States and Libya's neighboring countries with regard to finding a peaceful solution to the crisis in the country.

Libya, a major oil producer in North Africa, has been witnessing a frayed political process after its former leader Muammar Gaddafi was toppled during the 2011 political turmoil. The country is now deadlocked in a dogfight between the pro-secular army and Islamist militants. The protracted conflict in Libya has caused a security vacuum for homegrown extremism to brew.

In a separate resolution, the Security Council decided to extend the mandate of the UN Support Mission in Libya until Sept. 15, 2015, and the mandate of the panel of experts assisting Libya sanctions until March 15, 2016.

In the meantime, the resolution keeps in place an arms embargo on Libya and extends until March 31, 2016, the measures against illicit oil exports from the country.

The UN support mission was established in 2011 by the Security Council with the mandate of supporting the Libyan political process and security arrangements. Endi