Some media reports published following the adoption by the UN Security Council of its Presidential Statement on the situation in Libya on 16 December are inaccurate, specifically on the matter of allocating a UN Guard Unit to UNSMIL.

The UK Permanent representative to the UN did not say as some media alleged that the Libyan government blocked the UN decision regarding the guard unit for UNSMIL.

He clearly stated, what was affirmed by SRSG Mitri in his briefing to the Security Council on 9 December and his press conference held in Tripoli on 17 December, that some Libyans, not the government, had misconstrued the Secretary-General’s request to allocate a Guard Unit to protect UNSMIL personnel and its premises.

In fact, the Libyan Government had issued a statement on 30 November clarifying that the Secretary- General request was made to ensure the safety and security of UNSMIL personnel and premises as it is the case for the diplomatic missions in Libya.

In his Tripoli press conference, held on 17 December, SRSG Mitri explained that despite the fact that such a measure is an ordinary one taken by all diplomatic missions around the world, the format and size of the guard unit is currently under review. He further clarified that this step was taken to dispel concerns expressed by some groups in Libya that the UN wanted to take into account regardless of their motive.