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Tripoli-based government condemns Haftar's forces threats, mobilizes troops to face them
[Libya Observer] The Tripoli...a confusing city, one end of which is located in Lebanon and the other end of which is the capital of Libya. Its chief distinction is being mentioned in the Marine Hymn... -based Presidential Council (PC) has issued a statement denouncing the orders of east-based self-styled army to advance on the western region and the capital, saying it is very saddened by such an escalation that deprives Libyans of their rights to security and peace. The PC's statement said "the provocative announcements of certain parties ordering their forces to liberate the capital" is not the language needed at this time and won't help Libyans build their country. The PC said it had ordered all forces - military, police and security personnel - to be mobilized and on high alert to thwart any attacks by terrorist, criminal, outlaw, or mercenary groups in any area across Libya. "This is to stand tough against the insistence on adopting such a violent approach by those parties who made the provocative announcements." The PC said, referring to Khalifa Haftar  ...Self-proclaimed Field Marshal, served in the Libyan army under Muammar Qadaffy, and took part in the coup that brought Qadaffy to power in 1969. He became a prisoner of war in Chad in 1987. While held prisoner, he and his fellow officers formed a group hoping to overthrow Qadaffy. He was released around 1990 in a deal with the United States government and spent nearly two decades in the United States, gaining US citizenship. In 1993, while living in the United States, he was convicted in absentia of crimes against the Jamahiriya and sentenced to death. Haftar held a senior position in the anti-Qadaffy forces in the 2011 Libyan Civil War. In 2014 he was commander of the Libyan Army when the General National Congress (GNC) refused to give up power in accordance with its term of office. Haftar launched a campaign against the GNC and its Islamic fundamentalist allies. His campaign allowed elections to take place to replace the GNC, but then developed into a civil war. Guess you can't win them all...'s forces, without naming them. It added that this escalation comes days before the holding of the Libyan National Conference in Ghadames city, which would give Libyans hope to build their future through democratic elections. "There can be no military solution to the crisis as war brings only destruction, so all should stop using the rhetoric of escalation and replace it with wisdom." The PC remarked. This comes hours after the military media office of the self-styled army in eastern Libya, which is under the command of Khalifa Haftar, had announced that their forces started advancing on western Libyan cities and districts in order to "purge the remaining terrorist groups in the region." Posted by: Fred 2019-04-06 |
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