Two of the most powerful members of the United Nations Security Council are rejecting Libya’s call to lift a U.N. arms embargo so it can defend itself against the Islamic State group.

The United States and Britain say the chaotic country needs a national unity government first.

Libya’s foreign minister told an emergency council meeting Wednesday that lifting the embargo is necessary as the radical group establishes a presence in northern Africa and moves closer to Europe. Alarm soared after a video released over the weekend showed the beheading of 21 Egyptian Coptic Christians there.

But Britain and the U.S. are openly worried about allowing more weapons into a country that has two separate governments, multiple groups and a high risk of weapons falling into unwanted hands. Both say the embargo should stand. SAPA