Italy's foreign minister Luigi Di Maio has called for Libya's rival factions to "compromise" after armed groups supporting the eastern-based government blockaded key oil fields and export terminals.
"We are closely monitoring the delicate situation in Libya, where we believe there no other way forward than political compromise between the sides," Di Maio told an online event organised by Rome's private LUISS university on Thursday.
"Our priority to avoid a military escalation or the partition of the country, which would have destabilising effect on the security of the entire region," Di Maio underlined.
LUIS held the online event to mark the first anniversary of the Pax Humana Hub, an independent strategic centre for peace, security and development in the Africa-Mediterranean region.
Citing political demands, groups in southern and eastern Libya blockaded major fields and export terminals this week, causing the war-ravaged country to lose 550,000 barrels per day in oil production, the National Oil Corporation said on Wednesday.
Groups blocking the oil port of Zueitina in the 'Oil Crescent' region support Libya's rival eastern government led by former interior minister Fathi Bashagha after the eastern-based parliament in February named him premier in a direct challenge to the United Nations-backed government in Tripoli.
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