U.S. Sanctions to Target Opponents of U.N.-Backed Government in Libya

WASHINGTON—The Obama administration on Tuesday expanded its powers to impose punitive sanctions against people or groups that the U.S. believes are undermining Libya's newly formed government and the United Nations-backed peace process.

As part of the expanded authority in an executive order, the U.S. sanctioned Khalifa Ghweil, described by the Treasury Department as acting as a prime minister and defense minister of Libya's National Salvation Government, a body not recognized by the U.S. and a rival to the internationally backed Libyan Government of National Accord.

"Treasury is committed to using all tools at our disposal to support Libya's Government of National Accord as it works to build a safer and more stable country for the Libyan people," said Adam J. Szubin, Treasury's top sanctions official. "The people of Libya have long endured the consequences of violence and instability, and we will oppose attempts to undermine or destabilize the Government of National Accord at this critical time."

State Department spokesman John Kirby said Tuesday that the U.S. would continue to consider measures against other people or groups found to be interfering with Libya's government.

The European Union recently took similar measures to sanction Mr. Ghweil and two others that it concluded were undermining the peace process.

Instability in Libya has created a security vacuum that's allowed the Islamic State extremist group to gain a foothold in the country, which has increasingly concerned U.S. officials. The militant organization controls Sirte, a coastal Libyan city that is the organization's strongest foothold outside of Syria and Iraq.

Libya's parliament on Monday postponed a vote of confidence on the new U.N.-backed unity government. British Foreign Secretary Philip Hammond visited Libya on Monday and the foreign ministers of Italy, France and Germany made similar trips last week in bids to support Libya's new government.

Write to Felicia Schwartz at Felicia.Schwartz@wsj.com

(END) Dow Jones Newswires

April 19, 2016 21:25 ET (01:25 GMT)

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