Libyan Army Promises to ‘Liberate’ Tripoli if Dialogue Fails

Members of the Libyan army's special forces celebrate after the liberation of the last region of Islamist militants in their last stronghold in Benghazi, Libya, July 5, 2017. REUTERS/Esam Omran Al-Fetori
Members of the Libyan army's special forces celebrate after the liberation of the last region of Islamist militants in their last stronghold in Benghazi, Libya, July 5, 2017. REUTERS/Esam Omran Al-Fetori
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Libyan Army Promises to ‘Liberate’ Tripoli if Dialogue Fails

Members of the Libyan army's special forces celebrate after the liberation of the last region of Islamist militants in their last stronghold in Benghazi, Libya, July 5, 2017. REUTERS/Esam Omran Al-Fetori
Members of the Libyan army's special forces celebrate after the liberation of the last region of Islamist militants in their last stronghold in Benghazi, Libya, July 5, 2017. REUTERS/Esam Omran Al-Fetori

General Ahmad al-Mesmari, spokesman for Libyan National Army, accused politicians of involving the country in several crises and resting in Tunisia hotels to propagate themselves. He promised to liberate Tripoli from “militias” and to put an end to the division in case the dialogue failed.

The Libyan High Council of State referred failures of the second dialogue tour in Tunisia to the parliament. Omar Boushah, member of the dialogue committee on the High State Council, said to Asharq Al-Awsat: “We found ourselves negotiating contradictory agendas and blocs.”

Mesmari said that the army is moving on with what it pledged months ago in granting politicians until December 17, adding that Tripoli has become ready to receive the armed forces.

The armed forces succeeded in sidelining blocs in the Western region that have showed intention to join the army, and the situation there is heading towards eradication terrorism, added Mesmari -- he stressed that Libya can’t be safe but through the Arab armed forces.

Mesmari accused politicians without naming them, saying: “You are the reason behind the deterioration of the situation. You aided the foreigners in Libya and you made the country open infront of Qatar, Sudan and Turkey.”

There is a coordination with Egypt on the joint Libyan border to avoid smuggling of ISIS members, weapons and drugs, Mesamri noted. Egyptian armed forces spokesperson Tamer el-Rifai said last September that an agreement has been made with Libyan militants to embark on forming joint technical committees to discuss mechanisms and procedures to unite the Libyan military institution.

Libyan Military Commander Khalifa Haftar stated earlier, “We assure our people in the capital of all Libyans that your demands of an army, police and dismissal of criminal gangs have reached to us.” Further, U.N. Libya envoy Ghassan Salame resumed his tours in Tripoli and met several political parties.



UK's Starmer Discussed Importance of a Ceasefire With Lebanon's PM

Britain's Prime Minister Keir Starmer smiles on stage on the second day of the annual Labor Party conference in Liverpool, north-west England, on September 23, 2024. (Photo by Oli SCARFF / AFP)
Britain's Prime Minister Keir Starmer smiles on stage on the second day of the annual Labor Party conference in Liverpool, north-west England, on September 23, 2024. (Photo by Oli SCARFF / AFP)
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UK's Starmer Discussed Importance of a Ceasefire With Lebanon's PM

Britain's Prime Minister Keir Starmer smiles on stage on the second day of the annual Labor Party conference in Liverpool, north-west England, on September 23, 2024. (Photo by Oli SCARFF / AFP)
Britain's Prime Minister Keir Starmer smiles on stage on the second day of the annual Labor Party conference in Liverpool, north-west England, on September 23, 2024. (Photo by Oli SCARFF / AFP)

British Prime Minister Keir Starmer met his Lebanese counterpart at the United Nations and discussed the importance of an immediate ceasefire and a negotiated solution in the conflict with Israel, his office said on Friday.
Starmer met Lebanon's Najib Mikati at the United Nations General Assembly, reported Reuters.
"The Prime Minister opened by giving his sincere condolences to Prime Minister Mikati for the loss of civilian life in recent weeks," the statement said.
"They discussed the escalating conflict in Lebanon, and agreed on the importance of an immediate ceasefire and a negotiated solution."