International community to answer Libya's requests for support against IS

The international community is ready to answer Libya's requests for supporting its military forces in the fight against the Islamic State (IS), top diplomats said on Monday after an international meeting on Libya in Vienna.

Leading foreign ministers from more than 20 countries met in the Austrian capital on Monday under the joint chairmanship of the US and Italy to discuss how to bolster the support for Libya's unity government in the face of deepening splits in the country over political legitimacy and growing threats by the IS, Xinhua reported.

Speaking at a press conference after the meeting, US Secretary of State John Kerry said it was imperative that the international community should support Libya's s unity government.

Italian Foreign Minister Paolo Gentiloni, who also attended the press conference, told reporters that the international community was ready to answer the Libyan government's requests for training and assisting the Libyan military forces to combat networks, including the IS.

Speaking of the request submitted by Libya for lifting arms embargo, Kerry said the international community was ready to "measure whatever their requests are", adding that efforts are supported with the aim of providing the Libyan government with necessary tools to counter-attack the IS.

Since March, a national unity government has been gradually exerting its influence in Libya following years of unrest in the country.

However, the unity government led by Fayez Sarraj faces political opposition from within Libya and the threat of the IS establishing a bigger foothold.

--IANS

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