Egypt’s Shoukri flies to Rome for Libya-related Talks

Egyptian Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukri will travel to Rome on Wednesday to participate in a tripartite meeting with top diplomats from countries close to conflict-stricken Libya.

Speaking to state news agency MENA, Foreign Ministry spokesman Badr Abdel-Ati said that Shoukri is scheduled to meet the Italian foreign minister and Algerian minister for African and Maghreb affairs.

The meeting is expected to tackle the latest developments of the conflict in Libya.

The oil-rich North African country has been plunged into chaos after the ouster of longtime dictator Muammar Gaddafi, as armed groups struggle with each other and with the weak elected government for control.

The internationally recognised government is now based in the eastern city of Tobruk after the capital Tripoli was seized in August last year by the Fajr Libya militia coalition.

In January, Egypt waged retaliatory airstrikes on outposts of the Islamic State militant group in Libya, after the group killed 21 Christian hostages, including 20 Egyptians.

Since then, Egypt has been calling for international and Arab support for military intervention in the country.

Source: Ahram Online