Egypt seeks UN mandate for Libya Islamic State intervention

Egypt's President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi has called for a United Nations resolution allowing international forces to intervene in Libya.

There was no other choice, he told French radio. "We will not allow them to cut off the heads of our children."

Egyptian jets bombed IS targets on Monday in response to a militant video of the apparent beheadings of 21 Egyptian Christians.

Rival militias have been battling for control in Libya since 2011.

Numerous militia groups have battled for control and two rival governments are operating, in Tripoli and Tobruk.

Mr Sisi called for weapons to be made available to Libya's internationally recognised government, which fled to Tobruk after rival militias seized power in the capital.