EU ships in Libyan waters would undermine Tripoli government - diplomat

Libyan coast guards (R) escort migrants, who tried to flee to Europe, after the migrants were stopped by the coast guards and made to head to Tripoli September 29, 2015. REUTERS/Ismail Zitouny

ROME (Reuters) - The U.N.-backed government in Libya has not invited European ships into its territorial waters to help stop people smuggling because this could harm efforts to broaden support for the fledgling government, its envoy to Rome said on Tuesday.

Ahmed Elmabrouk Safar, ambassador to Rome for Fayaz Seraj's Tripoli-based Government of National Accord (GNA), told reporters foreign warships within sight of its coast "would not help Libyan stability".