Libya's ruling National Transitional Council has met with big challenges, from issues connected with illegal migrants and refugees to internal insecurity, the UN special envoy for Libya said Wednesday, dpa reported.
Ian Martin said NTC officials had openly spoken about their inability to cope with the increasing numbers of refugees in Libya.
They were "seeking sustained assistance to address these challenges humanely," he said from Tripoli, during a teleconference with the UN Security Council in New York.
Martin said Syrians who were fleeing the violence in their country were arriving in Libya via Egypt, prompting the UN High Commissioner for Refugees to provide them with daily food supplies. He did not say how many Syrian refugees were in Libya.
"The new government faces tremendous challenges and a heavy legacy from the former regime as it tries to tackle illegal migration and smuggling, effective border control, proliferation of weapons, and the need to reverse policies of long-standing discrimination against minority communities and foster national reconciliation among tribes," Martin said.
He said deadly clashes had taken place recently between Tabou and Zwaya tribal brigades, resulting in about 100 dead. The clashes reflected long-simmering tensions caused by the policies of the regime of former leader Moamer Gaddafi.
Libya's Prime Minister Abdurrahim el-Kleib and Martin are scheduled to meet with the council next week.
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