Hollande: France will not intervene in Libya

PARIS, Jan. 5 (UPI) -- France will not intervene unilaterally in Libya, President Francois Hollande said Monday.

In a two-hour interview with France Inter radio, Hollande asserted that intervention is not the responsibility of France. Instead, he said, "it is up to the international community to assume its responsibilities and it must make it possible to have a political dialogue... so that order is re-established."

Hollande blamed the deteriorating security situation in Libya on a failed military intervention in 2011 that wasn't followed by political dialogue.

"It is now up to the U.N.," he said.

The United Nations Support Mission in Libya said it continues to dialogue with the parties with the goal of reaching a cease-fire agreement by political means. It is unclear when the next round of consultations will be held.

A UNSMIL spokesman dismissed media reports that claimed the latest round was scheduled to begin Monday, telling the BBC that "consultations to hold the second round of dialogue continue with the parties to agree on the timing and venue."