(Adds more quotes, decision by EU on training mission to Libya)
By Marie-Louise Gumuchian
TRIPOLI, Jan 31 (Reuters) – British Prime Minister David
Cameron used a surprise visit to Tripoli on Thursday to pledge
Britain’s help in training Libya’s security forces, part of
broader European efforts to counter Islamic militancy in North
Africa.
In Brussels, European Union foreign ministers approved the
outline of a mission to help Libyan authorities tighten border
security to combat arms-smuggling and stop militants crossing
the border. The training and advisory mission is expected to
involve about 70 civilian experts and to be launched by summer.
Concern over security in the vast tracts of the Sahara has
grown after Islamic militants seized hostages earlier this month
at Algeria’s In Amenas gas plant. Up to 37 foreigners died after
troops stormed the complex to end the hostage crisis, which saw
the killing of 29 hostage-takers.
Cameron flew into Tripoli from Algiers, where he also
pledged to cooperate on security and intelligence. In the Libyan
capital he visited a police training academy and Martyrs’
Square. He has called North Africa and the Sahel a “magnet for
jihadists” and warned of a “generational struggle” against them.
However, he has shied away from a major military response
and instead espoused empowering regional governments to take the
lead in security and bolstering the rule of law and democratic
institutions.
“There is no true freedom and no true democracy, without
security and stability as well. We are committed to helping with
that both here and also in your neighbourhood,” Cameron said at
a news conference with Libyan Prime Minister Ali Zeidan.
“We’ve agreed a package of additional help from Britain to
Libya – increasing the military training we are providing,
increasing the police advisers … We’ve also discussed how we
can help build the institutional capacity of the new Libyan
government,” he added.
Cameron last visited Libya in 2011 along with then French
President Nicolas Sarkozy after rebels ousted former Libyan
leader Muammar Gaddafi with French, British and U.S. backing.
At the time he called Benghazi, the cradle of the uprising
against Gaddafi, an “inspiration to the world”.
Since then, Libya’s second city has been disrupted by
violence and become a base for Islamist militant groups. Last
September an attack on the U.S. diplomatic mission killed the
U.S. ambassador to Libya and three other Americans.
Last week Britain urged its citizens to evacuate the city,
citing a “specific, imminent” threat, irking Libyan officials
keen to attract foreign money and expertise after decades of
under-investment during Gaddafi’s rule.
“Our security situation is good, we are recovering, things
are getting better … I would like to highlight that what was
raised about Benghazi is just some propaganda, made by opponents
to the Feb 17th revolution,” Zeidan said.
Cameron highlighted the two countries’ shared interest in
boosting security in Libya. He cited cooperation on
investigations into the 1988 Lockerbie airplane bombing and the
1984 shooting of police officer Yvonne Fletcher outside the
Libyan embassy in London.
Cameron said police investigating the 1988 bombing of a
PanAm flight over the Scottish town which killed 270 people had
been granted permission to visit Libya.
“I am delighted that the Dumfries and Galloway police team
will be able to visit your country to look further into the
issues around the Lockerbie bombing,” he said.
Cameron said Britain’s Metropolitan police had travelled to
Libya three times as part of investigations into Fletcher’s
murder, who was 25 when she was hit by a shot fired from the
embassy during an anti-Gaddafi demonstration. Such trips would
have been “unthinkable” under the Gaddafi regime, he said.
“In all these cases what I want to achieve is justice and
also the full uncovering of all the facts.”
(Reporting by Marie-Louise Gumuchian; additional reporting by
Adrian Croft in Brussels; Writing by Mohammed Abbas in London;
Editing by Stephen Powell)
