Paris urges action to fight terrorism
The French Defence minister Jean-Yves Le Drian said on Tuesday that Paris might send troops abroad to fight terrorist groups.
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After Mali and Central African Republic, Le Drian urged action to deal with the crisis in Libya.
"We need to act in Libya and mobilise the international community" said Le Drian to daily newspaper Le Figaro published on Tuesday.
"Today, I am sounding the alarm about the seriousness of the situation in Libya", said Le Drian. "The south is a sort of hub for terrorist groups where they come to resupply with weapons and reorganise".
Concerns including chaos in Libya, Islamic State recent conquests in Syria and Iraq, the rise of Boko Haram in Nigeria and Cameroon have led to fears of "gateways between the various caliphates".
President François Hollande said last week that France will take part in any international coalition to fight terrorist groups in Syria and Iraq.
He also called on the UN to organise support for the Libyan authorities to restore their state.
"France will be part of the international coalition in Syria and Iraq", confirmed Le Drian to Europe 1 radio station on Tuesday, as Nato coalition is taking shape.
Although Le Drian didn't clarify if there will be a French military intervention on the ground in the Middle East, he added that French forces in Mali could move up to the Libyan border.
Le Drian said that the situation will be discussed later on Tuesday with his European counterparts at a meeting in Milan, Italy.
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