Egypt’s El-Sisi calls on international community to ‘shoulder responsibilities’ in Libya

Egypt's president Abdel Fattah El-Sisi called on Tuesday for the international community to "shoulder its responsibilities" in Libya and a "coherent response" to Sudan. (Reuters)
  • Egypt was hosting African leaders for emergency talks on Tuesday
  • El-Sisi also called for a coherent regional response to Sudan

CAIRO: Egypt's president Abdel Fattah El-Sisi called on Tuesday for the international community to "shoulder its responsibilities" to ensure the start of political negotiations between parties in Libya.

Speaking at the African Union Summit, he asked countries of the bloc to offer their support to Libya to help eliminate terrorism in the country.

El-Sisi said: "You must enable the army and police in Libya to perform their duty to maintain security and stability," while African leaders called for an "immediate halt" to fighting in the north African country.

Egypt was hosting African leaders for emergency talks on Tuesday on the upheavals in Sudan and Libya, as El-Sisi warned against "a slide into chaos."

El-Sisi called for a coherent regional response to Sudan, as protesters in Khartoum keep up demands for a civilian government and Libyan military strongman Khalifa Haftar's forces bear down on Tripoli.

The leaders in Cairo urged Sudan's military rulers, who took power after toppling longtime president Omar Al-Bashir, to implement "peaceful, organised and democratic transition measures" within three months, the Egyptian presidency said.

But they also agreed on "the need for more time" for a transition, urging the African Union to extend its end of April deadline for the ruling military council to hand power to civilians or face suspension from the bloc.