Italy seeks to keep allies in check as Libya wrangles over government

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http://www.reuters.com/article/us-libya-security-italy-idUSKCN0VY2EJ

Italy seeks to keep allies in check as Libya wrangles over government

Italy is resisting pressure to allow aircraft and armed drones to stage attacks on Islamic State militants in Libya from its territory, saying on Thursday that direct Western military intervention on the ground there was "unthinkable".

While Libya's rival factions have struggled to agree to a UN-backed national unity government, the Americans have launched air strikes on Islamic State outposts in the country and the French have conducted surveillance flights and sent military advisers.

But the U.S. and the EU have both said they agree with Italy that deeper military involvement will need the request of the Libyan government.

Italy is concerned that Western military intervention without such a request will stoke IS popularity and turn Libyan militias against the West. It is trying to persuade its allies to limit action until a government is in place.

"Libya can be stabilized by local forces. A military intervention and occupation of the country (by Western forces) would be unthinkable," Italian Defence Minister Roberta Pinotti said in an interview on Canale 5 television.

When asked about reports of French special forces on the ground there, she said: "In the past, unilateral accelerations have not helped Libya."

She was referring to the Western bombing that helped depose Libyan strongman Muammar Gaddafi five years ago but which has led to civil war and chaos, allowing IS to take root just across the Mediterranean from Europe.

Italy's Sigonella air base, where U.S. and NATO forces also are stationed, is just 500 km (310 miles) from Tripoli, making it the West's best staging area for air strikes on Libya.

Italy has more at stake than its allies, as people smugglers based in Libya have sent some 300,000 migrants across the sea over the past two years, and state oil giant Eni has extensive gas and oil interests there.

There needs to be "patience and encouragement" to cajole the Libyan factions toward a unity government, an Italian defense official said, because that remains "the only road to go down".

Last week, a U.S. air raid on Sabratha killed more than 40 Islamic State fighters. Instead of making the short flight from Sigonella in Sicily, the planes flew all the way from Britain.

After months of negotiations, Rome has agreed to let the U.S. fly armed drones from Sigonella, but they can only fire their missiles after receiving specific approval from Italy and only in missions to defend U.S. or "coalition allies".

Washington had sought permission to use the armed drones without any preconditions. Italian insistence on giving the green light to any operation will seriously limit their scope.

The United Nations has been trying to bring Libya's rival factions together in a unity government. A presidential council has been formed, but hardliners are resisting a vote in Libya's elected parliament to approve the new government.

On Tuesday, Libya's eastern parliament put off the vote yet again. A majority of lawmakers issued a statement of support for the government, saying hardliners had used force and threats to prevent a vote from taking place.

U.N. envoy Martin Kobler urged the parliament's leadership to "take immediate steps to formalize this endorsement".

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Libya conflict: UN says all sides probably guilty of war crimes

United Nations releases report documenting abuse including torture, rape and execution of prisoners

http://www.theguardian.com/world/2016/feb/25/libya-conflict-un-says-all-sides-are-probably-guilty-of-war-crimes

All sides in the Libyan conflict are probably guilty of war crimes, including torturing, raping and executing prisoners, the UN has said, urging the world to do more to bring the perpetrators to justice.

“A multitude of actors, both state and non-state, are accused of very serious violations and abuses that may, in many cases, amount to war crimes,” said the UN’s human rights chief, Zeid Ra’ad Al Hussein.

A report released on Thursday documenting abuses committed in Libya between 2014 and 2015 said the situation had deteriorated dramatically during that period.

Libya has had rival administrations since the summer of 2014, when the recognised government fled Tripoli after the Fajr Libya militia alliance including Islamists overran the capital.

A power vacuum since the 2011 toppling ofMuammar Gaddafi has fostered the rise of Islamic State (Isis) in the country, which is headquartered in the former dictator’s hometown of Sirte, but control of Benghazi remains divided between a collection of militias.

The report details how most major armed groups in the country have carried out unlawful killings, mainly executing people they had taken captive as well as those seen voicing dissent.

The six-member investigation team behind the report was able to visit Libya only briefly during its year-long inquiry due to the dire security situation in the country but conducted interviews with more than 200 victims and witnesses.

They described how bodies of people detained by armed groups and the Libyan National Army were found bearing clear evidence of torture and execution-style killings.

The report also details widespread and horrific torture by different factions, including beatings with plastic pipes and electrical cables, prolonged suspension in stress positions, electrocution and lack of food. According to the report, a number of detainees had been tortured to death.

The report, ordered by the UN human rights council, said thousands of people were in detention, most without any proper examination of their cases, and many in secret detention centres.

Sexual violence, while difficult to document, appeared to be rife in places of detention, the investigators said. They detailed one case where a woman said she had been abducted in Tripoli by an unidentified armed group, before being drugged and repeatedly raped over six months. After her escape, she discovered she was pregnant. The woman said she had seen six girls as young as 11 who were sexually abused by members of the same group.

The investigators also decried the forcible recruitment of children by armed groups, including those linked to Isis, who celebrated the practice. The report cited two boys, aged 10 and 14, who said they had been forced from their families to take part in Isis weapons training, using live ammunition, and watch videos of beheadings.

“One of the most striking elements of this report lies in the complete impunity which continues to prevail in Libya and the systematic failures of the justice system,” Zeid said.

The UN report called on the security council to list the individuals responsible for violations or abuses and implement sanctions.

They also complained that the international criminal court tasked with investigating the abuses did not have the resources to do so properly.

[karbatal]

OMG i read "aliens" i and was shaking and crying.