Arab states to ask UN to ease Libya arms embargo: Egypt

Arab states will on Wednesday seek a UN resolution to end an embargo on weapon sales to Libya's internationally recognised government, Egypt's foreign ministry said.

Cairo is pushing for action against the Islamic State group in Libya after the jihadists released a gruesome video showing the beheadings of Egyptian Christians.

Jordan, a non-permanent member of the UN Security Council, will present a draft resolution that requests "the arms embargo be lifted for the legitimate government, to enable it to fight against terrorism," the ministry said in a statement.

The text also calls for "increased surveillance from the sea and air to prevent deliveries of weapons to armed militants" in Libya.

The statement did not make any mention of military intervention, which Egypt had said on Tuesday that it would seek following the beheadings.

The decision to submit the draft resolution came after a meeting between Egyptian Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry and the UN ambassadors of other Arab countries.

The Security Council imposed the arms embargo on Libya at the start of the 2011 uprising which led to the downfall of Moamer Kadhafi's regime, to protect the civilian population from his forces.

The strife-torn North African country has two rival governments and parliaments, one recognised by the international community and the other with ties to Islamists.