The United Kingdom (UK) sent on Friday the UN Security Council member states an amended draft resolution on Libya, calling for the withdrawal of mercenaries from the country, according to a report by AFP.
The amended draft resolution expressed the Security Council's concern over the growing involvement of mercenaries in Libya, despite commitments made on January 19 at the international summit in Berlin.
According to the draft resolution, the commitments made in Berlin included ceasing all support for and withdrawing all armed mercenary personnel.
The draft resolution also urged all member states not to intervene in the Libyan conflict or take measures that exacerbate it.
AFP said that according to diplomats, Russia strongly opposes any mention of mercenaries in the text of the draft resolution, adding that no date has yet been set for a vote on the resolution.
AFP added that the first version of the British draft, dated January 24, contained no mention of armed foreign fighters.
On Thursday, UN envoy Ghassan Salame accused "unscrupulous" foreign actors -- without specifying who -- of continuing to meddle in Libya's conflict, in violation of the Berlin commitments.
Meanwhile, the amended British text condemned the recent increase in levels of violence and demands the parties commit to a lasting ceasefire. It also asks UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres to submit his views on the necessary conditions for, and proposals on effective ceasefire monitoring.
AFP said as well that unlike the first draft, which only mentioned the importance of the role of neighboring countries and unidentified regional organizations in contributing to a solution, the amended version specifically stresses the role of the African Union, League of Arab States and European Union.
