BREAKING NEWS

Libya blames UN council for hampering bid to fight Islamic State

Libya accused the United Nations Security Council on Wednesday of hampering its terrorism fight, while the UN envoy to Libya said the growing threat of Islamic State could only be tackled once warring parties agree on a government of national unity.

Libyan UN Ambassador Ibrahim Dabbashi complained that the Security Council Libya sanctions committee had not responded to its March request to import weapons, tanks, jets and helicopters to take on Islamic State militants and monitor its borders.

"The committee has indirectly contributed to continuing instability, as well as entrenching terrorism in Libya," he told the council. "There is premeditated hampering of the efforts of the Libyan government to strengthen its capacity to combat terrorism and to extend its authority to all Libyan territory."

Under a UN arms embargo imposed on the North African state in 2011, the internationally-recognised government is allowed to import arms with the approval of the Security Council committee, which operates on consensus.