British Foreign Secretary says unfreezing Libyan assets a ‘complex process’

British Foreign Secretary Philip Hammond said on Monday that the release of frozen Libyan assets is a very complex legal process, adding that his country will support the Libyan unity government with £10 million.

Libyan assets frozen in a number of Western countries including Britain are estimated to be worth tens of billions of USD.

Hammond told reporters in the Libyan capital of Tripoli that Britain supports the unity government, noting that his visit comes within this framework and that his country is ready to train security personnel if the Libyan government requests it.

The foreign minister also said that the unity government should act quickly to solve the security and economic problems in Libya, pointing out that his country will work to re-open its embassy in Tripoli when security returns to the city.

Hammond arrived in Tripoli on Monday morning as part of a show of European support to the unity government headed by Prime Minister Fayez al-Sarraj.