IS eyes Libyan oil

French Defence Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian said yesterday that the Islamic State group was spreading from its stronghold on the Libyan coast to the interior of the country with the aim of getting access to oil wells.

"They are in Sirte, their territory extends 250 kilometres (155 miles) along the coast, but they are starting to penetrate the interior and to be tempted by access to oil wells and reserves," Le Drian told RTL radio.

World powers are trying to convince Libya's warring factions to lay down their weapons and fall behind a new national unity government, as IS-allied groups exploit the political chaos to take hold of parts of the country, reports AFP.

Meanwhile, Syrian troops recaptured a military airport and nearby town east of Damascus yesterday, more than three years after they were overrun by rebel groups, a military source said.

"The Syrian army has taken full control of the town of Marj al-Sultan and its airport in Eastern Ghouta," a rebel bastion east of the capital, the military source said.

Rebel groups seized the airport, about 15 kilometres (nine miles) east of Damascus, in November 2012.

The United Nations aid chief yesterday condemned attacks on civilians in and near the Syrian capital as "unacceptable," a day after more than 50 were killed.

"Such indiscriminate attacks are unacceptable," Stephen O'Brien said in a press conference concluding a three-day visit to Syria.

More than 50 civilians were killed on Sunday in air strikes and rocket fire on an opposition stronghold east of Damascus and in rebel fire on the capital.

"This is a tragic reminder of the urgency of finding a political solution and securing a nationwide ceasefire," O'Brien said.

Meanwhile, the head of Russia's military general staff says rebels of the Free Syrian Army are receiving weapons - comments that come just days after a Kremlin spokesman denied that Russia was doing that.

Gen Valery Gerasimov was quoted yesterday by Russian news agencies as saying Russia is supporting the FSA with airstrikes and "help with weapons, ammunition and materiel." The statement appeared to suggest Russia was supplying the weapons, but the military could not be reached for clarification.