A diplomatic source told Agence France-Presse (AFP) that there are sharp disputes at the Security Council about the extension of the mandate of the UN Support Mission in Libya (UNSMIL).

AFP said the UK proposed a draft resolution to extend UNSMIL’s mandate for one more year and urge for holding elections, as well as call on member states to stop supporting and start withdrawing mercenaries from the country, but several states, including Russia, opposed the draft.

It also indicated that Russia had called for appointing an envoy to Libya but the UK and US rejected, thus, with such a dispute between Moscow and Washington, London passed an amended resolution to extend UNSMIL’s mandate to next September without mentioning elections. UNSMIL’s mandate ends January 31 and the Security Council os voting Thursday to pass the new extension.