Libyan Diplomat Says Anti-Government Militias Supported From Abroad

A senior Libyan diplomat blamed foreign forces for fuelling hostilities in the country. He once again called for the restoration of constitutional monarchy, saying that it would be "the best decision" for uniting Libya.

MOSCOW (Sputnik) — Various armed groups fighting the government forces in Libya are being supported by other countries, Mohamed Abdelaziz, the special Ambassador of the president of the Libyan parliament said, on Thursday.

"I'll tell you frankly, there are attempts to interfere with the internal affairs of Libya. I do not want to name [the countries], but there are some states that from certain ideological, political reasons support certain armed groups," Abdelaziz said, answering a Sputnik question at a press conference held in the Rossiya Segodnya press center in Moscow.

Abdelaliz, who served as the country's foreign minister from January 2013 to August 2014, said that Libyans do not want violence and extremism in their country and that the Council of Deputies (the country's parliament) wants to maintain a dialogue with people "other than extremists."

The former foreign minister once again called for the restoration of constitutional monarchy in the country, saying that it would be "the best decision" for uniting Libya.

Libya is facing its worst wave of violence since the beginning of the civil war that followed the 2011 overthrow of Muammar Gaddafi, the country's long-standing leader.

At present, two de-facto governments are operating in the country. The group controlling the Libyan capital of Tripoli and adjacent western areas is not recognized internationally. There are also independent armed groups in the country, some of whom are supported by Islamist radicals.