Britain has proposed expanding a United Nations Security Council mandate for a European naval operation to allow it to crack down on arms smuggling in the high seas off war-torn Libya, though Russia has voiced concerns about the idea.
Britain circulated a draft resolution to approve the measure to the 15-member council, diplomats said. In October, the council authorized the European naval operation to seize and dispose of boats operated by human traffickers.
"Now once again, we are asking this council to adopt a resolution on authorizing Operation Sophia to enforce the UN arms embargo on the high seas off the coast of Libya," European Union foreign policy chief Federica Mogherini told the council.
"I can only hope that this council will once again do the right thing and help us make the Mediterranean a safer place for everyone," she said.
The UN Security Council imposed an arms embargo on Libya in 2011 when former leader Muammar Gaddafi's forces cracked down on pro-democracy protesters. Libya's government is allowed to import arms with approval of the council's sanctions committee.
Russia's UN Ambassador Vitaly Churkin said that Moscow was not opposed to allowing the European...
