Rome to host international conference on war-torn Libya: Minister

Italian Foreign Minister Paolo Gentiloni on Wednesday said Rome would host an international conference on conflict-ravaged Libya on 13 December, aimed at stopping the country from falling apart and containing the Islamic State (IS) group.

"We can still stop the country from completely disintegrating and stop Daesh from advancing," Gentiloni said as he announced the date to the Italian senate, using another name for IS.

"We can do it, with intense diplomacy, an agreement between the various sides, and a strong commitment to political stability by the future government," he said.

"We don't have much time left," he added, saying it was "out of the question" to let IS spread any further in the war-torn country.

Libya was thrown into chaos after a 2011 revolt backed by an international military intervention overthrew slain Libyan leader Muammar Gadaffi.

IS now controls Gadaffi's hometown Sirte in the east, and experts say the town has become a new focal point for IS as it comes under increasing pressure in its traditional Iraqi and Syrian power bases.

Meanwhile two governments vie for power and armed groups battle over the country's energy resources.

Gentiloni's announcement came after he met in Brussels with several of his NATO counterparts on Tuesday and Wednesday.

Algeria on Tuesday hosted the seventh ministerial meeting of Libya’s neighbouring countries aimed at reaching a final settlement of the conflict in Libya.

Countries and bodies participating in the meeting were Egypt, Tunisia, Chad, Niger, Libya, Sudan, Algeria, the African Union, the EU, the UN, and the Arab League.

Concerns are rising regarding the vulnerability neighbouring nations face as Libya sinks deeper into chaos.