Germany will do its part to avoid proxy war in Libya, says Merkel

BERLIN (Reuters) - Germany will do its part to avoid a proxy war in Libya, Chancellor Angela Merkel said on Wednesday, warning that the situation in the north African country risked destabilising the whole of Africa.

"In Libya, a situation is developing that can take on similar dimensions to what we have seen in Syria .. and it's imperative we do everything we can to make sure this does not escalate into a proxy war and Germany will play its part," Merkel told the Bundestag lower house.

"The whole of the African region will be destabilised if Libya is not stabilised," she added.

(Reporting by Michelle Martin and Paul Carrel; Writing by Madeline Chambers)