U.S. President Barack Obama on Friday urged Gulf countries to be "more cooperative" in diffusing the conflict in Libya.

"In some cases, you've seen them fan the flames of military conflict, rather than try to reduce them," Obama told a joint news conference at the White House with visiting Italian Prime Minister Matteo Renzi, referring to Gulf countries that have influence over factions in Libya.

Obama said he and Renzi agreed to work together "more intensively" to encourage cooperation on threats coming from Libya.

The president's remarks came amid a migrant crisis in the Mediterranean Sea. Sources from the United Nations said at least 218,000 migrants tried to flee conflicts in North Africa by crossing the sea last year, with some 3,500 losing their lives in the attempt.

"Mediterranean is a sea and not a cemetery," Renzi said at the news conference. "The problem at this moment is the situation on the ground in Libya."

Renzi underlined the importance of restoring peace and stability in Libya, adding that Italy works closely with the UN and regional partners to address the issue.

Some 400 migrants including many minors could have died at sea over the weekend while attempting the crossing from Libya to Italy, Save the Children, a children's charity, said on Tuesday.

The tragedy in the Mediterranean highlighted the absolute need for destination countries to adopt a new approach to migration that places the rights of migrants at the forefront, the United Nations Committee on the Rights of Migrant Workers said on Thursday.

"Everything that happens in the Mediterranean Sea is not merely something that has to do with security," Renzi said on Friday. "It has to do with justice and the dignity of mankind."

Go to Forum >>0 Comment(s)