London (AFP) - Britain could deploy 1,000 troops as part of a 6,000-strong international force in Libya, the House of Commons Foreign Affairs Committee said on Tuesday.
In a letter to Foreign Secretary Philip Hammond, the committee said it had become aware of "UK plans to contribute 1,000 ground troops to a 6,000-strong international force which will be deployed to Libya in the near future".
It said the matter came up during a visit to Egypt and Tunisia earlier this month and urged Hammond to make a statement to parliament on the issue.
Western countries have agreed that action is needed to dislodge Islamic State (IS) jihadists from Libya but world powers say they want a national unity government to request help before formally intervening.
On Saturday, Libya's UN-backed unity government said it was taking office despite lacking parliamentary approval, with its US and European allies urging it to move to Tripoli and begin governing.
The allies also warned they would impose sanctions on anyone who acted to "undermine" Libya's political process.
In the letter, the British committee said: "We heard that the GNA's (Government of National Accord's) likely first formal action will be to request that the UK and its allies conduct airstrikes against ISIL (IS) targets in Libya."
Libya descended into chaos after the 2011 ouster of longtime dictator Moamer Kadhafi allowed extremist organisations, including IS, to gain significant ground.
Italy has agreed to lead a UN-mandated international stabilisation force into its troubled former colony, but the sticking point has been getting credible cover from a national authority.
The international force would seek to train the Libyan army and protect the newly-formed government, the committee said.
Defence Secretary Michael Fallon was expected to agree Britain's contribution to the force at a conference in Europe this week, it added.
Neither the foreign or the defence ministries had any immediate comment on the letter.
Burkina Faso expels French diplomats for 'subversive activities'
GOIL reduces petrol price by 29 pesewas, sells GHC14.70 per litre
The disrespect towards security is terrible; we can do better — Atik Mohammed co...
Starlink to cease connection in Ghana, other “unavailable” countries on April 30...
MMCEs, DCEs and Regional Ministers must be elected to reduce political interfere...
National Cathedral: ‘Nonsense; you take taxes from broke Ghanaians to dig a clum...
April 18: Cedi sells at GHS13.59 to $1, GHS13.01 on BoG interbank
We must harness the collective power and ingenuity of female leaders to propel o...
Saglemi Housing Project will not be left to rot – Kojo Oppong Nkrumah
Asantehene commends Matthew Opoku Prempeh for conceiving GENSER Kumasi Pipeline ...
