Tripoli, 18 January 2014 - The United Nations Support Mission in Libya (UNSMIL) expresses deep concern about the continuing violence in the city of Sabha which has resulted in the loss of life and property. The Mission calls for the immediate end to the armed clashes and supports efforts to restore calm, stop the bloodshed and ensure security in the city and other areas of southern Libya.

UNSMIL expresses its condolences to the families of the victims and wishes for the injured speedy recovery.

The Mission urges all the parties to exercise maximum restraint and resort to peaceful means to resolve the differences.

UNSMIL reiterates that the way to establish security and maintain peace is to confront the problems and address the root causes, stave off the risk of division among the society's components and embark on a path of national reconciliation and sustainable development.

The Mission supports the call to conduct a thorough and impartial investigation of the events in the south. UNSMIL also supports mediation efforts aimed at putting an end to this serious security deterioration.