Egypt, Libya to increase security co-operation

Egypt will train Libyan forces to fight terrorism and help secure a shared border, the prime ministers of the two states announced in Cairo on Wednesday, stepping up efforts against Islamist insurgents in both countries.

Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi has expressed concerns over militants who have capitalised on the chaos in post-Gaddafi Libya to set up operations there and sneak across the border into Egypt.

They have forged ties with Egypt’s Ansar Bayt al-Maqdis, the Sinai-based militant group that has stepped up attacks on soldiers and policemen since Sisi as army chief removed the Muslim Brotherhood from power last year.

Hundreds of security forces have been killed.

“We need to urgently support all the needs of our (Libyan) brothers to coordinate at the highest level in all areas…in the fields of security and we emphasize the exchange of information to combat terrorism…and also emphasize border security and control,” Egyptian Prime Minister Ibrahim Mehleb told a news conference.