West Should Take Responsibility for Chaos in Libya – Prime Minister

Libyan prime minister says that the West must take complete responsibility for the current political chaos in the country.

MOSCOW (Sputnik) — The West must take complete responsibility for the current political chaos in Libya, the country's prime minister said Wednesday.

"Western countries should take full responsibility for the chaos that Libya is facing," Abdullah Thani said during the meeting with Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov.

The Libyan Prime Minister underscored that "Western states have overthrown the former regime, destroyed the capacity of the Libyan army completely and left the people in Libya without effective government institutions."

Thani urged Russia to support the restoration of the Libyan government institutions and security in the country, including through the efforts of the international organizations, "whose ultimate goal should be lifting arms embargo to the Libyan army."

Libya has been struggling with unrest in the country since long-standing leader Muammar Gaddafi was overthrown in 2011.

There are now two rival governments in the country, with the self-proclaimed authorities controlling the Libyan capital of Tripoli and adjacent western areas. The forces of the internationally recognized government are fighting numerous rebel groups, including Islamic State-affiliated militants.