Diplomats Say Libya is Facing Increased Threat of Islamic Terrorism

Militants under pressure in Mali looking elsewhere

Diplomats are warning of growing Islamist violence against western targets in Libya as blowback from the war in Mali, following last week'sattack on the French embassy in Tripoli.

The bomb blast that wrecked much of the embassy is seen as a reprisal by Libyan militants for the decision by Paris the day before to extend its military mission against fellow jihadists in Mali.

The Guardian has learned that jihadist groups ejected from their Timbuktu stronghold have moved north, crossing the Sahara through Algeria and Niger to Libya, fuelling a growing Islamist insurgency.