EU rejects foreign military intervention in Libya

The European Union has refused to accept third-party military intervention to resolve the ongoing crisis in Libya. Such intervention, would, said the EU’s external affairs and foreign relations spokesperson, “only increase the divide in the country.” A statement criticised the bombing of Libyan territory by unidentified aircraft and ongoing clashes in Tripoli and Benghazi among several other cities.

“The EU rejects the use of arms to reach political goals,” said the EU statement. It pointed out that “an expanded political dialogue in the country is the best and only solution to resolve the ongoing crisis in Libya.”

The Europeans called on the various parties to leave arms and agree to an immediate ceasefire, stressing the need to hold to account those responsible for igniting the clashes and acts of violence. The Libyan parliament and interim government, said the EU, should accelerate the formation of a broad-based government which includes all sects in the country.