There has been a flurry of diplomatic trips to back the unity government, including a visit on Saturday by French Foreign Minister Jean-Marc Ayrault and his German counterpart Frank-Walter Steinmeier.
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In a joint press conference with PC members, Ahmed Mitig and Mohammed Emmari in Tripoli, Hammond reaffirmed that Britain supports the UN-proposed government and will provide it with a 10 million pounds backup.
A coalition of US-backed countries, including the United Kingdom and France, launched missile and airstrikes on Libya in March 2011 in a bid to help oust longtime dictator Muammar Gaddafi following a national uprising.
“I sense that the Libyan people are ready for reconciliation and a government which allows them to work together”, he said.
He was taken under tight security to the heavily protected naval base where the Serraj’s administration is struggling to establish its authority.
Mr Hammond said: “Britain and its allies fully support Prime Minister Fayez Serraj and his government as they restore peace and stability to the whole of Libya”.
He said Hammond is “dancing on pretty thin ground” by sending a training mission into a combat zone and asked the government to be as transparent as possible if airstrikes are required.
Western governments are hoping that the UN-backed unity government in Libya can resist the Islamic State militants who have a foothold in the country and also prevent the new flow of migrants heading north across the Mediterranean Sea. It has also said it is ready to help train the police and coastguard and fight terrorism.
British Foreign Secretary Philip Hammond, who arrived at the meeting directly from Tripoli, said he hoped training could happen in Libya or a neighboring country.
“No such decision has been taken and we are not contemplating at the moment a commitment of that kind”, he said.
Unity government headed by Fayyez Sarraj, should “swiftly assume their rightful role in exerting sole control over all public bodies and security and military forces in Libya, in order to respond to the numerous expectations of the Libyan people, ” they added. It has had two rival administrations since a militia alliance took over Tripoli in mid-2014, setting up its own authority and forcing the elected parliament to flee to Tobruk.
The EU is planning to expand the mandate of its “Sophia” navy operation fighting people-smugglers operating off the Libyan coast.
EU foreign policy chief Federica Mogherini said European foreign and defence ministers would hold talks via video link from Luxembourg with Sarraj later Monday on how best to shore up his government.
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The move follows the effective closure of the migrant trail through Turkey and Greece, prompting fears of a new influx trying to reach Europe via Libya.
