UN Security Council concern over Libya arms stockpile

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LONDON. November 1. KAZINFORM The United Nations Security Council has expressed "concern" over the fate of the massive weapons stockpile built up in Libya under Colonel Muammar Gaddafi.

The council called on Libya and its neighbours to stamp out the proliferation of looted arms, BBC News said.

It was worried they could fall into the hands of al-Qaeda and other militant groups.

Many weapons were destroyed in Nato operations, which ended at midnight on Monday.

However, officials said it was not clear how many were still in circulation.

The resolution, drafted by Russia and adopted unanimously, said that a huge stockpile of shoulder-fired missiles, which had been accumulated by Col Gaddafi, could still pose a threat to passenger aircraft.

It emphasized that the "proliferation of all arms... in particular, man-portable surface-to-air missiles, in the region, could fuel terrorist activities, including those of al-Qaida in the Islamic Maghreb".

The resolution also called on the new Libyan government to destroy chemical weapons in co-ordination with international authorities.

The vote came as Nato formally ended its seven-month air campaign. The mission formally came to an end at one minute to midnight Libyan time (21:59 GMT) on Monday.

Operations began under a UN Security Council mandate to protect civilians on the evening of 19 March, as Col Gaddafi's forces moved to crush the uprising in the eastern rebel-held city of Benghazi.

Overall, Nato aircraft flew more than 26,000 sorties, including nearly 10,000 strike missions. More than 1,000 tanks, vehicles and guns were destroyed, along with Col Gaddafi's command and control network.

Nato chief Anders Fogh Rasmussen - in Tripoli to mark the end of the mission - said Nato's military forces had prevented a massacre and saved countless lives.

He said Nato could help Libya's new rulers with security and the transition to democracy if requested.

Mr Rasmussen had talks with National Transitional Council (NTC) leaders about Libya's future and the roadmap for transition to democracy.

For full version go to http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-15531816

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