France ready to respond to Libya's call for security help

French foreign minister Jean-Marc Ayrault said on Friday his country would help restore stability and end conflict in Libya if the Libya's unity government asked for security help.

"France is prepared to respond to requests for help from (the Libyan) government, particularly in the area of security, in cooperation with its partners and the UN," Ayrault said in a statement without giving details on the eventual security support.

The French top diplomat also reiterated Paris' "total determination to support the national unity government," that Westerners are betting on to stop Islamist fighters' offensive and stem migrant flows triggered by years-long unrest and bloody fighting.

Speaking to a local radio station earlier on Friday, Ayrault was opposed to the idea of conducting air strikes against Islamic State (IS) in Libya and ruled out a plan to send French troops to the North African country over fears of a military stalemate in Tripoli.

"We shouldn't make the same mistakes as in the past. If you're imagining air strikes, ground troops, that's not on the table. It's not France's position anyway," the French minister told France Info radio.

"However, to secure the government, if Mr (Fayez) Seraj asks for international help then we'll study it," he added.

In February, daily newspaper Le Monde reported that French special forces had been conducting discreet action against the IS in Libya in coordination with the United States and Britain. Endit