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IS remains active in southern Libya's Sirte: spokesman

Xinhua, March 28, 2017 Adjust font size:

A military spokesman said that IS affiliates are still active in southern Sirte despite the defeat by the government's forces.

Mohamed Gunono, spokesman of the air emergency chamber of the UN-backed government, said that the current political division is helping IS fighters regroup.

"The political rivalry still exists with no regards to the country. This rivalry is exploited by the (terrorist) group," Gunono said.

The UN-backed government of national accord on Friday issued a resolution to form a security force of 3,000 fighters to secure Sirte.

The government's forces announced on March 15 that a presence of IS affiliates still remains in some parts of Sirte, despite defeating the terrorist group.

Sirte, located nearly 450 km east the capital Tripoli, was controlled by IS affiliates for over a year before the UN-backed unity government's forces took over the city in December following a seven-month fight that killed and injured hundred of the government's forces.

Libya is suffering chaos and insecurity since the fall of Muammar Gaddafi's regime in 2011. The country is plagued by escalating violence and political division. Endit