After Sisi-Trump phone conversation, Security Council calls for ceasefire in Libya

Mahmud Mohamadi

President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi has discussed the situation in the Middle East region, bilateral cooperation with the US and the situation in Libya during a lengthy phone conversation with US President Donald Trump.

President Sisi said Egypt backed efforts by the National Libyan Army in the fight against terrorism and militias in Libya, Presidency Spokesman, Bassam Radi said.

President Trump, meanwhile, described the crisis in Libya as a threat to security in the region as a whole.

The two presidents discussed the situation in Libya and Egypt’s participation at the latest workshop on the Palestinian-Israeli conflict in Bahrain, the White House said.

Ceasefire

The United Nations Security Council called on Friday for an immediate ceasefire in Libya, a move that got backing from Washington.

It said in a statement that member states had called for defusing the crisis in Libya, highlighting the need for abiding by the aspired ceasefire.

The member states also denounced a July 2 air raid on a refugee camp that left 56 refugees dead.

They called for the return of negotiations between Libyan rivals under the auspices of the United Nations.

The Security Council also expressed concern over deteriorating humanitarian conditions in Libya. It called on all parties to allow humanitarian assistance organization to carry out their mission in the country.

It called on member states to abide by a 2011 ban on the export of arms to Libya.
in March 2011, the Security Council issued its resolution 1970 in which it asked member states to stop the sale of arms to Libya.

Some politicians, meanwhile, lashed out at the council for issuing a quick statement because of opposition by the United States.

They added that the latest Security Council statement was not a lot different from a statement the council issued on Wednesday.