Libya's Muslim Brotherhood rejects 'foreign intervention'

BENGHAZI, Libya

The Muslim Brotherhood's branch in Libya on Thursday rejected the notion of foreign intervention in the crisis-hit North African country.

"Foreign intervention would have dire consequences for Libya and the entire region" the Brotherhood's Justice and Building Party said.

The party's assertions came one day after the UN Security Council met to discuss Libya and three days after Egypt carried out airstrikes targeting sites thought to belong to the Islamic State of Iraq and Levant (ISIL) group.

The Egyptian airstrikes came after a video was released online by the ISIL showing the execution of 21 Egyptian Christian hostages in Libya.

The Justice and Building Party, Libya's largest Islamist party, condemned the killing of "unarmed civilians" during the Egyptian airstrikes, which mainly targeted the eastern city of Darnah.

The party went on to call for a peaceful political settlement between Libya's warring camps.

"The party rejects attempts by certain countries to export their crises to Libya and take advantage of terrorist groups to further their own political agendas," the party asserted.

Fractious Libya has remained a source of concern for neighboring Egypt since it descended into violence and chaos following the ouster and death of strongman Muammar Gaddafi in 2011.

On Wednesday, Egypt – which only recognizes Libya's Tobruk-based government – called on the UN to lift a ban on international arms sales to the North African country.