Libya asks France for support

Libya has officially asked France for assistance in getting control of fires burning at one of its oil reservoirs near the capital, Tripoli, the French Foreign Ministry said Tuesday.

Foreign Ministry spokesman Romain Nadal said that Libyan authorities had directly asked for help in putting out the fire on one main reservoir. The first is disastrously close to spreading to another reservoir.

But France pointed out that it was very difficult to intervene because of the conflict that has erupted in several parts of the country, including in the capital and its airport.

“The violence in the capital makes it very difficult to get access to the involved zone,” the spokesman said.

Separately, France said it was taking all measures to assist its nationals in getting out of Libya.