Reuters, 18/02 16:45 CET
By Patrick Markey and Tarek Amara
ALGIERS/TUNIS (Reuters) –
Libya’s neighbours are again preparing for possible Western intervention
in Libya, tightening border security and sending diplomatic warnings
about the risk from hurried action against Islamic State that could
force thousands refugees to flee.
As Islamic State has expanded in Libya — taking over the
city of Sirte and attacking oil ports — so too have calls increased for a
swift Western response to stop the group establishing a base outside
its Iraq and Syria territory.
For Tunisia, Egypt and Algeria, sharing borders with
Libya was already a security challenge as the country slipped into war
between rival factions and allowed Islamic State to thrive five years
after NATO strikes helped defeat Muammar Gaddafi.
Exactly what Western intervention is possible is still
under discussion. But President Barack Obama has ordered security
advisers to look to halt Islamic State, and U.S. officials say air
strikes and special forces operations are options.
Italy’s defence minister has said the West can not afford
to let spring come and go without intervening, though most officials
say they are pushing for a united Libya government first to ask for help
on the ground.
North African officials back international attempts to
bring Libya’s factions together, but they worry they will pay the price
in instability, refugees and militant counter attacks if an intervention
happens without a government on the ground.
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Source: Euronews
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