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Libya complains to Moscow about Russian mercenaries fighting for Haftar's forces
[Libya Observer] The Head of the Libyan Presidential Council Fayez al-Sarraj has confirmed that his government has submitted a complaint to Moscow about Russian mercenaries fighting alongside 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, so it's kind of hard to describe him as a Qadaffy holdover. 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 that are leading an offensive against 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... Speaking on La Belle France 24 Channel on Wednesday, al-Sarraj said his government officials talked to Russian officials about the mercenaries and that his government trusts Moscow's role in Libya's stability. He also denied that there are any mercenaries fighting alongside Libyan Army forces, saying: "We haven't used mercenaries. We defend ourselves with youths and regular army units." "Our forces have detained African mercenaries fighting for Haftar's forces and belongings of Russian mercenaries as well." He added. Al-Sarraj called on the international community and United Nations ...where theory meets practice and practice loses... to have a firm stance against the crimes committed by Haftar, saying his government is documenting all the crimes to file them at local and international organizations to hold the perpetrators accountable. Related: Fayez Al-Sarraj: 2019-10-09 Al-Sarraj: Forces attacking Tripoli responsible for terrorists' reemergence Fayez Al-Sarraj: 2019-09-23 Libya's HCS urges Al-Sarraj to take measures against countries backing Haftar Fayez Al-Sarraj: 2019-09-19 Tripoli Protection Force rejects dialogue with "killers of Libyans" Related: Khalifa Haftar: 2019-10-16 Haftar tells Sputnik that his army can take control of #Tripoli in just two days, but people’s safety is a priority for him Khalifa Haftar: 2019-10-16 Heavy clashes sweep through southern Libya's Tripoli Khalifa Haftar: 2019-10-15 Three girls found dead under rubble of their house which was destroyed in an air raid by warlord Khalifa Haftar’s air force Related: Russian mercenaries: 2019-10-12 Senior commander in Russian Wagner Group injured in Libya Russian mercenaries: 2019-10-10 Libyan Army downs warplane for Haftar's forces in southern Tripoli Russian mercenaries: 2019-10-07 Heavy fighting renews northeast of Aziziya region, south #Tripoli Posted by: Fred 2019-10-18 |
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