MOSCOW (Sputnik) — In an interview revealed on Sunday, Pier Ferdinando Casini, the chairman of the Foreign Affairs Committee of the Italian senate, urged the European Union to hold a summit on the volatile situation in Libya.
"I can only confirm that there is no such summit foreseen at this point," the EU source said.
The statement comes amid reports that hundreds of Daesh-affiliated militants started to flee Libya after attacks of ground forces as well as US air strikes against militants during fighting for the Libyan city of Sirte.
Italy's Interior Minister Angelino Alfano denied claims Monday that Islamists from Sirte were attempting to cross into the country disguised as refugees. On the same day, Italian Foreign Minister Paolo Gentiloni said Rome was ready to consider Libya’s potential request for helping establish regular security forces in the country.
Libya has been in a state of civil war since May 2014. The United Nations helped to bring about a ceasefire in late 2015 and on March 31 the UN-backed unity government took office in Tripoli. The government has so far failed to unite the country.
