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Emergency in Libyan capital
TRIPOLI: Authorities in control of Libya’s capital on Friday declared a “maximum state of emergency” after a UN-backed unity government that they reject said its members would head to Tripoli to begin work.The head of the Tripoli authorities Khalifa Ghweil called on his Interior and Defense Ministries and allied armed groups to “take all security measures necessary to preserve the country’s stability by increasing patrols and security checks,” a statement on his administration’s website said. But streets were calm on Friday morning, an AFP photographer said, with police cars deployed at their usual positions around the city, but no signs of extra security measures. Libya has had two rival administrations since mid-2014 when an armed alliance overran the capital, setting up its own authority and causing the government backed by the internationally recognized parliament to flee east. The United Nations has been pushing for the two sides to cede power to a unity government under a power-sharing deal announced in December, but both have rejected the new authority headed by prime minister-designate Fayez Al-Sarraj. Posted by: badanov 2016-03-26 |
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