The Libyan government has called on Arab states to conduct air strikes against the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant, known as Isis, in Iraq and Syria, after the militant group seized further ground in the coastal city of Sirte. The internationally recognised administration, which controls a fraction of the North African state’s territory, said it was unable to fight Isis because of the international ban on the supply of weapons to Libya’s army. The Arab League said it would hold an emergency meeting on Tuesday to discuss the demand. Divided Libya, where a fierce civil war is raging, is split between the official government in the eastern city of Tubruq and its rival in Tripoli to the west. Large parts of the country are under the control of local militia groups. The UN has been mediating talks intended to lead to the formation of a unity government.