By Libya Herald staff.
Tripoli, 17 September 2014:
The United Nations has said that preparations are still underway for sanctions . . .[restrict]against those responsible for the recent conflict in Libya following reports to the Security Council this week.
A UN spokesman told the Libya Herald that the Security Council was still reviewing its plans for sanctions. At the end of August and after weeks of fighting in and around Tripoli International Airport, the UN announced it would be imposing travel bans, fines and take criminal proceedings against those deemed to “threaten the peace, stability or security of Libya, or obstruct or undermine the successful completion of its political transition”.
The Chairman of the UN Sanctions Committee said during reports to the Security Council two days ago that his committee was looking particularly at those circumventing international sanctions placed on Libya over the movement of arms and ammunition.
He said the black market in weapons had “flourished in Libya” and that the international community would “not stand silent in the face of theses violations”. He added that the sanctions committee was still waiting to determining against whom the the sanctions would be meted out.
At the same time, Libya’s representative to the UN urged action. Ibrahim Dabbashi said necessary measures to maintain the authority of the state including “the use of force” should be applied if armed groups were “unwilling to withdraw from the city”.
He said “any armed group that enters into alliance with another armed group, that do not believe in the authority of the state, practices terrorism, shall be declared as a terrorists”, adding that those who wished to help the country “should provide all possible assistance to the Libyan national army, before it is too late”.
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