The daily star_TRIPOLI/BENGHAZI, Libya: Libya will build a satellite surveillance system with Italian expertise to help secure its borders, its defense minister said, as part of Tripoli’s plans to stem the flow of militants and illegal immigrants.
Western powers worry that the sprawling North African state has become a safe haven for Al-Qaeda fighters as its government struggles to rein in militias and former rebels who helped topple longtime autocrat Moammar Gadhafi two years ago.
Weak border controls and a small army lacking training have turned Libya into a weapons-smuggling route for Al-Qaeda in sub-Saharan countries and also a transit corridor for Islamist fighters heading to Syria’s war.
Human traffickers also smuggle refugees over the remote desert borders with Egypt, Sudan or Chad into Libya from where they try to reach Italy by boat.
Defense Minister Abdullah al-Thini told Reuters Libya had contracted an Italian company to start setting up from December a satellite-based surveillance system to monitor the border from the Mediterranean coast to the sub-Saharan boundaries.
“It will cover the whole border. From the end of 2014 the southern border will be sealed. The crossing points and weak spots will be closed with the help of satellites,” he said this week, without giving technical details or the project’s cost.
“We will spot any infiltration or approaching vehicle.”
Libya was also turning to Saudi Arabia to benefit from the kingdom’s experience controlling the flow of Islamists and illegal workers over its desert border with impoverished Yemen.
“We will cooperate with the kingdom of Saudi Arabia,” he said.
“Their geographic conditions are similar to Libya.”
To train its fledgling army, Libya has sent thousands of soldiers to military academies in Britain, France, Italy, the United States and Turkey as well as to Arab countries Egypt, Jordan, the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Oman and Sudan.
“We have in all these countries soldier students who enjoy intensive training. Each year about 5,000 get trained overseas and 10,000 at home,” he said.
But Thini acknowledged that it would take time to build up forces able to tackle armed militias battle-hardened from the revolt against Gadhafi.
The minister’s comments came as shops and schools closed across Benghazi as residents of Libya’s second city responded to calls for civil disobedience to protest deadly clashes between radical Islamists and the army.
The call by the city council came as a source said Defense Ministry officials were in talks with jihadist group Ansar al-Shariah on an offer of safe passage out of the city on condition its fighters leave their weapons behind.
The army clashed with jihadists Monday after one of its patrols was attacked near the headquarters of Ansar al-Shariah.
The Health Ministry said seven people were killed in the fighting and around 50 wounded.
The army deployed Tuesday across the eastern city, taking control of key roads, an AFP correspondent reported.
Troops were also in control of the Ansar al-Shariah headquarters in the city of Ajdabiya, south of Benghazi, which residents had attacked late Monday, forcing jihadists to flee, before handing it over to the army.
Weak border controls and a small army lacking training have turned Libya into a weapons-smuggling route for Al-Qaeda in sub-Saharan countries and also a transit corridor for Islamist fighters heading to Syria’s war.
Human traffickers also smuggle refugees over the remote desert borders with Egypt, Sudan or Chad into Libya from where they try to reach Italy by boat.
Defense Minister Abdullah al-Thini told Reuters Libya had contracted an Italian company to start setting up from December a satellite-based surveillance system to monitor the border from the Mediterranean coast to the sub-Saharan boundaries.
“It will cover the whole border. From the end of 2014 the southern border will be sealed. The crossing points and weak spots will be closed with the help of satellites,” he said this week, without giving technical details or the project’s cost.
“We will spot any infiltration or approaching vehicle.”
Libya was also turning to Saudi Arabia to benefit from the kingdom’s experience controlling the flow of Islamists and illegal workers over its desert border with impoverished Yemen.
“We will cooperate with the kingdom of Saudi Arabia,” he said.
“Their geographic conditions are similar to Libya.”
To train its fledgling army, Libya has sent thousands of soldiers to military academies in Britain, France, Italy, the United States and Turkey as well as to Arab countries Egypt, Jordan, the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Oman and Sudan.
“We have in all these countries soldier students who enjoy intensive training. Each year about 5,000 get trained overseas and 10,000 at home,” he said.
But Thini acknowledged that it would take time to build up forces able to tackle armed militias battle-hardened from the revolt against Gadhafi.
The minister’s comments came as shops and schools closed across Benghazi as residents of Libya’s second city responded to calls for civil disobedience to protest deadly clashes between radical Islamists and the army.
The call by the city council came as a source said Defense Ministry officials were in talks with jihadist group Ansar al-Shariah on an offer of safe passage out of the city on condition its fighters leave their weapons behind.
The army clashed with jihadists Monday after one of its patrols was attacked near the headquarters of Ansar al-Shariah.
The Health Ministry said seven people were killed in the fighting and around 50 wounded.
The army deployed Tuesday across the eastern city, taking control of key roads, an AFP correspondent reported.
Troops were also in control of the Ansar al-Shariah headquarters in the city of Ajdabiya, south of Benghazi, which residents had attacked late Monday, forcing jihadists to flee, before handing it over to the army.
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