Italy urges UN role in Libya amid Takfiri threat

Italy has urged the United Nations to find a political settlement to the worsening crisis in Libya, warning of a possible rise in Takfiri-fueled violence in the North African country.

In a Wednesday address to the parliament, Foreign Minister Paolo Gentiloni highlighted that the world body must “double its efforts” to encourage political dialog in Libya, which is currently divided among competing militias, Takfiri groups and tribal rivalries. 

Warning of a possible alliance between local militants in Libya and the ISIL terrorists, he said, “The deterioration of the situation on the ground forces the international community to move more quickly before it's too late.”

The comments came after ISIL militants released a gruesome video on Sunday that showed the beheading of 21 Egyptian Christians by the terrorist group. It showed the handcuffed hostages dressed in orange jumpsuits kneeling down along the seaside near the Libyan capital, Tripoli.

The rise of ISIL militants in Libya has left Italy dangerously exposed to the Takfiri threat, triggering major concern in the European country. 

Libya descended into chaos following the 2011 uprising that toppled dictator, Muammar Gaddafi. The ouster of Gaddafi gave rise to a patchwork of heavily-armed militias and deep political divisions.

Gentiloni further expressed Rome’s readiness to help monitor a ceasefire in Libya and train a regular army.

Migrants’ arrival

The chaotic situation in Libya has also led to a rise in the number of African migrants who try to enter Europe in unsafe boats from Libya.

More than 5,300 people have made their way to Italy from Libya since the start of 2015, in a development that indicates a nearly 60 percent increase on the same period last year.

The immigration crisis has not only fueled anti-immigrant sentiment in Italy, which itself is experiencing a harsh economic depression, but also raised security concerns.

Over 300 people died last week while attempting to reach Italian shores. Italy stopped its search-and-rescue mission last October and the EU-backed Triton mission that replaced it has been decried as inadequate.

Some Italian opposition figures even called for the suspension of all naval search-and-rescue operations in the Mediterranean due to the risk that terrorists might use refugee boats to enter Italy to carry out attacks.

Stepped up security

The head of the Vatican's Swiss Guard, Christoph Graf, said on Wednesday that security at the Vatican has been ratcheted up and additional measures have been adopted to ensure the safety of Pope Francis.

“We have asked all the Swiss guards to be more attentive and to carefully monitor the movement of people,” he said, adding that the intelligence services are expected to provide detailed information on any potential threat.

Italy has been put on a heightened state of alert with its government's security committee endorsing a decision taken last week to raise the number of soldiers on anti-terror "safe streets" duties from 3,000 to 4,800.

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