Security boosted in Tripoli

TRIPOLI: Authorities in the Libyan capital vowed on Monday to boost security after twin attacks on foreign embassies but warned that a lack of international recognition was hindering their fight against Jihadists.
The appeal came as political party leaders and activists gathered in the Algerian capital for a new round of UN-mediated peace talks aimed at reaching an accord to end the chaos and violence at home.
Libya’s controversial army chief, Khalifa Haftar, visited Jordan where King Abdullah II pledged Amman’s support in his fight against Islamist “terrorists” in the east of the country.
Since a 2011 revolt that toppled dictator Moamer Qadhafi, Libya has been politically divided, with two governments and two parliaments, as armed groups battle for its oil wealth and cities.
Most of the international community recognises the government and parliament based in the eastern city of Tobruk.
A rival administration in Tripoli emerged after Islamist-backed militias seized the capital last August.
Feeding on the chaos, the Islamic State Jihadist group which holds chunks of Syria and Iraq has gained a foothold in the North African country, where its has claimed several deadly attacks.
Gunmen opened fire on South Korea’s embassy compound from a passing car on Sunday, killing two Libyans and wounding a third.
Hours later, a bomb exploded outside the Moroccan embassy, causing no casualties but damaging cars, a security official.
Both attacks were claimed by the Tripolitania branch of IS.
“We will strike with an iron fist the dens of terrorists and all those who undermine security in the capital,” Mahmud Abdulaziz, a member of the Tripoli-based parliament, told AFP.
A security official said that “increasing numbers of checkpoints” would be set up across Tripoli in a bid to restrict the Jihadists’ ability to carry out attacks.
Abdulaziz appealed to the international community to “help us fight Daesh,” using an Arabic

acronym for IS.
“The world doesn’t recognise us while we are fighting Daesh on behalf of the world,” he said.
The government based in the eastern city of Tobruk condemned the attacks on foreign embassies, saying they indicate that Tripoli “has been hijacked by terrorist gangs”.
In Algeria, Libya’s UN envoy, Bernardino Leon, warned in remarks to a meeting of political party leaders and activists that violence hinders peace efforts.
“We think we are close to a political solution for Libya,” said Leon, stressing the importance of the meeting aimed at a “draft agreement” on setting up a national unity government.
“We still have to send a message to those fighting, they must give us a chance to try to find a political solution,” he said, offering condolences to families of the Tripoli attack victims.