The UN Security Council has passed a resolution tightening an arms embargo for Libya and extending sanctions to those thought to be fueling the conflict.<br /><br />It’s feared the violence could spread elsewhere in the region and potentially provide a hotbed for terrorism.<br /><br />The UN’s outgoing envoy to the country, Tarek Mitri, has spoken of a grave situation:<br /><br />“The chaotic security situation and the very limited capacity of the government to counter the threat may well have created a fertile ground for a mounting danger in Libya and beyond.”<br /><br />For its part, Libya has warned that the country could descend into a full blown civil war, if rival militias aren’t disarmed.<br /><br />The recent election of an Islamist backed deputy as the new prime minister has essentially left the country with two rival leaders and parliaments, backed by their own armed groups.<br /><br />Unconfirmed reports have since surfaced that Egypt and the United Arab Emirates have launched air strikes in Libya to push back the militants.<br /><br />But one of the more pressing concerns for the international community remains the worsening humanitarian situation. Addressing the UN Security Council, Mitri noted the growing problem:<br /><br /> “ In Tripoli, we have seen an unprecedented movement of population in an attempt to escape the fighting. Conservative figures for those displaced are estimated at over 100-thousand, with at least another 150-thousand, including many migrant workers, have sought refuge abroad”
