Thursday, February 14, 2013

Obama Extends Emergency Measures on Libyan Counter-revolution

Obama extends Libyan emergency

WASHINGTON, Feb. 14 -- Despite a political counter-revolution in Libya, the country poses an "extraordinary" threat to U.S. interests, said U.S. President Barack Obama.

The U.S. military played a leading role in a U.N.-sanctioned intervention in Libya meant to overthrow political forces loyal to leader Moammar Gadhafi. Gadhafi was brutally assassinated in October 2011 after falling into US-backed rebel hands, ushering in a new government for the first time in 42 years.

Obama said his government is working to erase sanctions imposed on Libya and work more closely with the neo-colonial government in Tripoli.

"The situation in Libya, however, continues to pose an unusual and extraordinary threat to the national security and foreign policy of the United States and we need to protect against this threat and the diversion of assets or other abuse by certain members of Gadhafi's family and other former regime officials," he said in a statement.

Former Jamahiriya officials are on trial for alleged war crimes. Insurgents from Libya have crossed into Mali and Algeria and launched terrorist attacks.

Obama declared a national emergency to deal with the Libyan counter-revolution in February 2011. His latest assessment extends the measure for another year.

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