Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry flew to Algeria to meet with his Algerian counterpart to discuss regional issues, focusing on the Libyan crisis, the Egyptian Ministry of Foreign Affairs said in a statement on Thursday. Ministry spokesperson Badr Abdel Atty said the two ministries will discuss a number of regional issues, but that the Libyan crisis was the top issue on the political scene. The statement added the two countries "neighbouring Libya" were concerned with "pushing all Libyan parties to abandon violence and weaponry and to cede to the demands of the Libyan people". Islamic groups in Libya have blamed Egypt for a series of airstrikes against Islamist targets in the Libyan capital Tripoli. Both the Egyptian government, which has consistently cracked down on Islamist groups domestically, and the House of Representatives denied military involvement inside Libya. Earlier this week, Egypt hosted Libyan tribal elders and leaders to encourage their unification in support of the Libyan House of Representatives. Egypt, Tunisia, Algeria, and a number of other countries have been meeting systematically, expressing concern over the deepening crisis in Libya. While Egypt is the head of a political committee due to discuss solutions to the Libyan Crisis, Algeria is heading a security committee. The two countries will also discuss how to continue their initiative as neighbouring countries of Libya to provide the Libyan state with "security and stability." The Libyan state has been fragmenting since the overthrow and death of long-time dictation Muammer Gaddafi three years ago.
