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By Libya Herald staff.
Tripoli, 19 December 2014:
The Libyan government continues to claim that a significant portion of the terrorists operating in . . .[restrict]Libya have come from outside. The figure now being given is around 20 percent.
Speaking on Al-Arabiya TV, House of Representatives (HoR) spokesperson Faraj Buhashem said that one in five of the terrorist fighters in Libya were foreigners.
Buhashem went on to suggest that retired General Khalifa’s “Operation Dignity”, against terror was not just about Libya’s problem with terrorism, but about preventing a spillover into North African neighbours and European countries.
Denouncing the United Nations’ calls for an immediate ceasefire, Buhashem said: “If the international community has any authority over these groups, or even direct contact with them, the Libyan government needs to be brought into the conversation so that such a ceasefire can be attained.”
Buhashem went on to maintain that the calls for a ceasefire have come too late. Groups like Ansar Al-Sharia and the Islamic State (IS) have gained a foothold and their presence in Libya was only growing stronger.
Libyan ambassador to the UN Ibrahim Dabbashi has also criticised Western powers—notably the UK and the US—for showing unwillingness to support the Libyan Army in its fight against terrorism. According to the Cairo-based Libya news agency Bawabat Alwasat, Dabbashi said: “If they are serious about fighting terrorism, Libya is already doing this now.” [/restrict]
