US, Europe demand Libya ceasefire
TRIPOLI (AFP) — The United States and European powers pressed Libya’s rival factions to set an “unconditional” ceasefire at talks restarting today, as two attacks on foreign embassies were linked to Islamic State militants.
A bomb exploded outside the Moroccan embassy in Tripoli, causing no casualties but damaging nearby cars, a security official said. Like many others in the Libyan capital, the embassy is currently inactive.
Morocco is hosting a UN-backed dialogue between representatives of the two rival governments controlling the country, separate to talks that were to resume this week in Algeria.
The bombing came hours after gunmen opened fire on South Korea’s embassy compound from a passing car on Sunday, killing two Libyan guards and wounding a third person.
An AFP photographer said a vehicle used by the security guards was riddled with bullets, while it appeared that the main embassy building had not been hit.
The foreign ministry in Seoul confirmed the attack, saying three South Koreans working in the embassy — including two diplomats — were unhurt.
That attack was claimed by Islamic State (IS) militants, according to the SITE Intelligence Group, and tweets from IS supporters used similar wording to claim responsibility for the Moroccan embassy bombing.
“A bomb inside a bag went off near the gate of the Moroccan embassy in Bin Ashour area” in central Tripoli, the security official said, adding “there were no casualties.”
“The sound of the explosion was very strong, and the ( embassy) house was shaking for a few seconds,” one witness told AFP.
Libya has been plagued by chaos since the end of the 2011 revolt that toppled Moamar Gadhafi, with heavily armed militias battling for control of its cities and oil wealth, and rival governments and parliaments vying for power.
Europe’s leading powers and the United States pressed the rival factions to set an “unconditional” ceasefire at this week’s talks in Algiers on forming a unity government.
“We strongly urge all participants to the dialogue to negotiate in good faith and use this opportunity to finalize agreements on the formation of a national unity government,” said a statement issued by the foreign ministers of France, Germany, Italy, Spain, Britain and the United States.