Western Allies Warn on Control of Libya's National Resources

The United States and five European countries warned on Tuesday that Libyan state institutions which control billions of euros of national assets risked being exploited by rival forces wrestling for control of the country. Control of state bodies has become increasingly murky as Libya has descended into near-anarchy since rebels toppled Muammar Gaddafi in 2011, with two rival governments backed by armed militias now claiming legitimate authority. They said that as hopes of a peace deal brokered by the United Nations were rising, "we express our concern at attempts to divert Libyan resources to the narrow benefit of any side in the conflict and to disrupt financial and economic institutions that belong to all Libyans."