Africa Map

African Press Agency

African Press Agency Logo
   

 Home
 Country Profile
 Useful Links
 Contact us

UK/LIBYABack
[Published: Friday May 27 2016]

UK to send Royal Navy warship to Libya
LONDON, 27 May - (ANA) - The UK is set to send a Royal Navy warship to the Mediterranean to help tackle arms smuggling in Libya, Prime Minister David Cameron has announced. He told the G7 summit in Japan the UK was ready to take an "active leadership role" in helping Libya deal with people trafficking and the migration crisis.The UK already has a survey vessel, HMS Enterprise, operating in the area. Officials are to seek UN approval for the new warship to seize boats taking arms to so-called Islamic State. Last week, the new Government of National Accord (GNA) in Libya asked the European Union - which is running a mission, called Operation Sophia, in the area - for more assistance. It requested help in training its navy and coastguard, as well as stopping the trafficking of migrants across the Mediterranean. The GNA is also believed to be considering a request for international ships to operate in Libyan waters. Speaking in Japan, Mr Cameron said Libya was "a danger to all of us" and the UK would deploy a warship to the area, subject to the UN approving Libya's request. He said the UK was "working closely" with the EU to tackle people-trafficking in the central Mediterranean. The UK also plans to send a training team to "assist" with the implementation of plans to help train the Libyan coastguard, he added. Mr Cameron said: "Once the relevant permissions and UN security council resolution are in place I will deploy a naval warship to the south central Mediterranean to combat arms trafficking in the region. "Together these developments will help stabilise Libya, secure its coast and tackle the migration crisis." The EU operation - which currently has five ships, including an Italian aircraft carrier and frigates from Spain and Germany - has faced strong criticism. A House of Lords committee published this month said the mission was failing to achieve its aims and does not "in any meaningful way" disrupt smugglers' boats.(ANA)

FA/ANA/27 May 2016-----------
 


North South News website

Advertise banner

News icon EU/Kenya/Pesticides
News icon UN/Israel/Gza
News icon US/Israel/Gaza
News icon Pakistan/ISI Interference
News icon EU/North Africa
News icon Senegal/Elections
News icon Israel/Gaza Massacre
News icon Russia/NATO
News icon Gaza/Victims Number
News icon Kenya/Uganda

AFRICAN PRESS AGENCY Copyright © 2005 - 2007