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By Libya Herald reporter.
Beida, 28 March 2015:
The Libyan government has gone on the attack over the UN’s refusal yesterday to lift . . .[restrict]the arms embargo.
Those who opposed or delayed giving weapons to the Libyan Army were opening the door to IS terrorists, House of Representatives president Ageela Salah warned fellow members of the Arab League in Sharm El-sheikh today. Terrorism would flourish in Libya and, he said, its neighbours would be the first countries to be affected.
Meanwhile information minister Omar Al-Gawari accused the international community of betraying Libya and snatching at deals. While it renewed the UNSMIL mandate for a further six months and repeated its call for an immediate ceasefire, the UN Security Council refused to lift the arms ban.
“The international community is trying to make Libyans pay the price for its own failures, and snatching for deals and gains,” Gawairi told the Libya Herald.
Even though it is internationally-recognised, the Libyan government was prevented from importing weapons. This, cautioned Gawairi, weakened its defences and endangered its very existence.
“I warn the internal community, Italy in particular, that instead of illegal immigrants, boats of terrorist may arrive on its shores, if it continues with its negative policies towards Libya”.
He added: “I did warn Tunisia before about this, and they have now experienced the reality of the threat”.
The war against terror had to continue and there could be no ceasefire.
“It will go on, “ he said, “because both the government and people have pledged to fight terror until it’s eradicated. The Skherat talks have nothing to do with the anti-terror campaign that the national army is now spearheading”.
Gawairi was dismissive of UNSMIL saying it had not made progress because it had a very weak role and had not stuck to its promises nor to the goals that were set for it”.
He also warned that the relationships with countries that had voted to keep the arms embargo might be reassessed. [/restrict]
