Weapon leaks from Libya are a factor that sharply increases terrorist risks not only in North Africa or sub-Saharan Africa, but across the globe.

       Russia is concerned with terrorists potentially gaining access to weapons in Libya, primarily shoulder-launched missiles, Deputy Foreign Minister Mikhail Bogdanov said on Friday at a conference of the Middle East section of the Valdai International Discussion Club.

       Weapon leaks from Libya, he said, “are a factor that sharply increases terrorist risks not only in North Africa or sub-Saharan Africa, but across the globe.”

       Speaking about the situation in Libya, Bogdanov said that “last year was a very dramatic and bloody year for Libya. Now that we are drawing a line under the events of 2011,” he added, “the international community should thoroughly analyze all miscalculations and mistakes made during the Libyan crisis in order to avoid repeating them in the future.”

       Russia believes that the actions taken by the NATO coalition under Security Council resolution 1973 should first be made clear. "It would be appropriate, in addition to appropriate efforts by the International Criminal Court and the HRC’s Commission of Inquiry, to conduct with the participation of the UN and NATO secretariats an impartial investigation into possible civilian casualties from air strikes against Libya," the Russian diplomat said.

       Despite the cessation of widespread hostilities and the lifting of the no-fly zone, "from time to time, clashes between tribal and regional militias, reprisals against supporters of the toppled regime, and unjustified aggression against workers from African countries are reported," Bogdanov said.

       Arbitrary arrests and the illegal detention of foreign nationals cause particular concern, he said, adding that "such facts further exacerbate the internal conflicts in Libyan society, provoke tensions and feed the potential for conflict with neighboring countries," the Russian deputy foreign minister said.

       Views expressed are of individual Members and Contributors, rather than the Club's, unless explicitly stated otherwise.