Libya Aftermath ‘my worst mistake’-Regrets President Obama

US President Barack Obama has said failing to prepare for the aftermath of the ousting of Libyan leader Col Muammar Gaddafi was the worst mistake of his presidency.

Mr Obama was answering a series of questions on the highs and lows of his time to the press.

He said, however, that intervening in Libya had been “the right thing to do”.

The US and other countries carried out strikes designed to protect civilians during the 2011 uprising.

But after the former Libyan president was killed, Libya plunged into chaos with militias taking over and two rival parliaments and governments forming.

So-called Islamic State (IS) gained a foothold, and Libya became a major departure point for migrants trying to reach Europe.

A UN-backed national unity government arrived in the capital Tripoli earlier this month but is waiting to take charge.

It is not the first time President Obama has expressed regret over Libya. He expressed his views to the magazine last month stating that the operation went as well as he had hoped, but Libya was now “a mess”.

In that interview, he also criticised France and the UK, in particular saying British Prime Minister David Cameron became “distracted” after the intervention.