Defeating Daesh can only happen through legitimate Libya govt.: EU
The EU foreign policy chief says Europe will intervene in Libya’s fight against Daesh Takfiri militants only if a legitimate government in the war-torn country makes an official request.
"Defeating Daesh effectively can only happen through a legitimate Libyan government in charge of its own security," Federica Mogherini said in an interview with French newspaper Journal du Dimanche published Sunday.
Since August 2014, when militias seized the capital, Tripoli, Libya has had two parliaments and two governments with one, the General National Congress (GNC), run by the rebels in the capital, and the internationally-recognized administration in Tobruk.
Mogherini said the next few days would be "crucial" for Libya as the internationally-recognized parliament is set to vote on a national unity government on Tuesday.
She said Europe is ready to provide help with security and administration if required.
"We have supported efforts to create a national unity government for months," the EU's top diplomat said, adding, "If we want to help them, we should trust them because they know their country better than we do."
Libya has been in chaos since former dictator, Muammar Gaddafi, was toppled and later killed in 2011.
Daesh took control of Libya’s northern port city of Sirte in June 2015, almost four months after it announced its presence in the city, and made it the first city to be ruled by the militant group outside of Iraq and Syria.
Since then, the group has been expanding its presence in the violence-wracked country, particularly after the Iraqi and Syrian army advances against militants.
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