The UN Security Council yesterday called on Libya’s interim authorities and neighbouring countries to stamp out the spread of weapons from Muammar Gaddafi’s huge stockpile.
Amid mounting fears that militant groups in Africa and beyond could get shoulder-fired rockets and other weapons from the Gaddafi cache, the 15-member council unanimously passed a resolution demanding the clampdown.
Resolution 2017, drawn up by Russia, stressed international fears that the stockpile could cause unrest through Africa’s Sahel region and fall into the hands of groups such as Al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb. The resolution called on Libya “to take all necessary steps to prevent the proliferation of all arms”, especially man-portable surface-to-air missiles, MANPADS.
It also called on Libyan authorities to work with the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons to destroy new stockpiles. The Security Council said states in the region should draw up measures to prevent the spread of the arms.
Since the death of Colonel Gaddafi on October 20, Libya’s transitional government has found two chemical weapons sites hidden by the old regime, experts said. The UN envoy to Libya, Ian Martin, told the Security Council last week that international inspectors have to visit hundreds of suspected weapons stockpile sites in Libya.
Col Gaddafi’s regime “accumulated the largest known stockpile of anti-aircraft missiles” outside of producing countries, Mr Martin said.
The MANPAD surface-to-air missiles can be used against civilian jets and other ordnance can easily be converted into car bombs and roadside explosives, according to experts. Meanwhile, according to Associated Press, Libya’s interim Prime Minister confirmed the presence of chemical weapons in Libya and said foreign inspectors would arrive this week to deal with the issue.
Mahmoud Jibril said Libya had no interest in keeping such weapons. “We would like to assure you that the new Libya will be a peaceful Libya and that it is in our interest to have no weapons in Libya,” he told reporters.
New Libyan Prime Minister
Academic Abdel Rahim al-Kib was elected yesteday to head a new Libyan transitional government and vowed to make human rights his priority.
Mr Kib, who hails from the Libyan capital Tripoli, came out in front in the battle for the post ahead of four other candidates in the first round, winning 26 out of 51 votes cast by members of the National Transitional Council.
A graduate of the universities of Tripoli, Southern California and North Carolina State, Mr Kib has taught at several colleges as well as the Petroleum Institute in the United Arab Emirates. He has been a researcher in electrical power engineering and is an author of numerous research papers.
On the issue of the former rebel fighters who defeated longtime strongman Muammar Gaddafi, he said his administration would work with the fighters to restore stability.