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US President Donald Trump doesnt seem to want to repeat the Libyan scenario in Syria when he proposes setting up safe zones in the war-stricken country, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said, adding that the Libyan case had been tragic.

We understand that Donald Trumps administration is yet to specify its approach [on Syrian safe zones], Lavrov said at the Fourth Session of the Arab-Russian Cooperation Forum in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates.

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Russias foreign minister said the idea of safe zones had been discussed at the early stages of the Syrian crisis when negotiators proposed following the tragic Libyan scenario.

[They] established such a safe zone in Benghazi area, where anti-government forces were stationed, some kind of alternative government was established [there], he said.

He pointed out that NATO came to help that government and [then] in flagrant violation of the Security Council resolution, overthrew the regime of Muammar Gaddafi.

The foreign minister said that Russia was ready to discuss safe zones in Syria with the new US administration.

As soon as the State Department leadership is completely formed, I am convinced that we will get in contact and establish a full-blown regular dialogue, Lavrov said.

Lavrov proposed re-including the official Syrian government in the Arab League as a way of solving the crisis. The country was suspended from the group back in September of 2011, months after the bloody conflict broke out.

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The fact that the Syrian government, a legitimate member of the UN, cant take part in the discussions in the Arab League, doesnt help in the pursuit of this [negotiation] process, he said. Lavrov noted that, while there have been different types of contact between Syria and various international organizations and bodies, which Russia welcomes, I believe that the Arab League could play a more important, a more effective role, if the Syrian government were part of this organization.

Trump said earlier in January that he wants to establish safe zones within Syria for people fleeing terrorism. While the president did not give any details, he explained his reasoning with a nod towards Europe, which he said has made a mistake by letting asylum seekers in from the Middle East.

Trumps plan is part of his general directive on immigration, which includes a temporary 90-day ban on most refugees and the suspension of US visas for citizens of Syria, Iran, Iraq, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, and Yemen the Middle Eastern and African countries where Islamic terrorism is most common.

Lavrov has voiced cautious support for Trumps proposed safe zones, saying the initiative is completely different from that which Western countries have proposed at various stages of the Syrian war. However, he insisted that the plan would require close cooperation with the UN and approval from Syrian President Bashar Assads government.

Original post:
Trump doesn't seem to want another Libya in Syria Lavrov - RT

Libya Oil Output On The Rise, Highest Since 2014 Forbes After a series of setbacks and missteps, Libya is reportedly on track to continue its increased oil production in 2017, with output now sitting at the highest levels seen since 2014. According to media reports, the North African nation is currently ... Time To Get Back Into Libyan Oil? Probably Not Quite YetOilPrice.com all 3 news articles »

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Libya Oil Output On The Rise, Highest Since 2014 - Forbes

Three Italians and a Libyan national have been detained,accused of smuggling weapons including surface-to-air missiles andassault riflesinto Iran and Libya between 2011and 2015

Annamaria Fontana with former Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad

According to La Repubblica, three Italians couple Mario Di Leva and Annamaria Fontana, and legal representative for Rome-based Societ Italiana Elicotteri Andrea Pardi, was already involved in another investigation on arms trafficking and recruitment of mercenaries between Italy and Somalia and a Libyan national, Mohamud Ali Shaswish, are accused of smuggling air ambulances and weapons such as surface-to-air missiles, assault rifles and anti-tank missiles to Libya and Iran between 2011 and 2015. The air ambulances were then converted into military helicopters, La Repubblica reported.

Reuters news agency, however reported that the three Italians have been arrested while police were still looking for the Libyan man.

The military equipment was manufactured in the ex-Soviet bloc and shipped from third countries, including Ukraine and Tunisia, Reuters reported, citing police.

Reportedly, investigations are focusing on the possible trafficking of arms destined to a group which supports ISIS in Libya.

Di Leva is said to have converted to Islam and changes his name to Jafaar, and is allegedly being investigated for suspected radicalisation.

Prosecutors have in their possession a picture of the couple with former Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, La Repubblica also reported.

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Italy police arrest four for smuggling arms to Iran, Libya - MaltaToday

ASHEVILLE, N.C. (WLOS)

At 18-months-old, Varghese Alexander, with his father leading the way, immigrated from Libya to the United States. It was 1983. Libya is now one of seven countries making up the list of Muslim-majority countries banned from sending immigrants to the United States for three months.

When Trump signed that executive order and banned so many countries in the Middle East, it hit home in a way that made me want to get out there on twitter and made me want to say things in a classroom that I typically dont," Alexander, a math teacher at Asheville School, said.

Alexander pulled the passport he had as a child when he came to the United States. The picture of him with huge brown eyes looking up at the camera is one that reminds him of the children now, the ones who may be coming with their parents to the United States, hoping for new lives only to be denied entry.

This is what's happening to my family, my friends of my family. If we were in 1983, we wouldnt have been allowed to come. I would have have been one of those kids that was stopped at the airport and sent back home.

Mohammad Iqbal, a senior at Asheville School, was born in Saudi Arabia but is a U.S. citizen. He and his good friend and fellow high school senior Umit Muradi are Muslim. Muradi was born in Queens, New York, and is a U.S. citizen, as well.

I have a couple of friends that are from areas such as Libya and Syria that have family members impacted by all this, Muradi said,

Iqbal plans to fly home for spring break and wonders if the country he was born in could be added to the list of banned countries.

Im kind of scared about that, Iqbal said. I dont think he (Trump) would because of the oil.

Despite what is happening, Muradi, who is on a scholarship at the school, said he's proud to be an American. He said his father works day and night as an Uber driver in New York to support his family.

Despite all that is going on, this is one of the greatest countries in the world," Muradi said. "The amount of opportunities given here makes it worth it."

Read more from the original source:
Muslim students, Asheville teacher from Libya react to ban - WLOS

The sinister possible reason why Trump's Muslim ban targeted seven particular countries Quartz US president Donald Trump sparked worldwide protests after signing an executive order that temporarily stops refugee admissions to the US for several months and blocks new visas for anyone from seven majority-Muslim countries: Iran, Iraq, Libya ... and more »

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The sinister possible reason why Trump's Muslim ban targeted seven particular countries - Quartz