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.



Arab League to Convene Emergency Meeting to Address Israeli Threats Against Iraq

Arab League Secretary-General Ahmed Aboul Gheit at the Arab League headquarters in Cairo, Egypt. (Reuters file photo)
Arab League Secretary-General Ahmed Aboul Gheit at the Arab League headquarters in Cairo, Egypt. (Reuters file photo)
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Arab League to Convene Emergency Meeting to Address Israeli Threats Against Iraq

Arab League Secretary-General Ahmed Aboul Gheit at the Arab League headquarters in Cairo, Egypt. (Reuters file photo)
Arab League Secretary-General Ahmed Aboul Gheit at the Arab League headquarters in Cairo, Egypt. (Reuters file photo)

The permanent delegates to the Arab League will convene an extraordinary session on Sunday, chaired by Yemen, in response to a request from Iraq.

Arab League Assistant Secretary General Ambassador Hossam Zaki said on Saturday that the meeting will focus on a memo from the UN Security Council president, which contains the Israeli occupation's claims of increased attacks from Iraqi territory since September, SPA reported.

"The General Secretariat of the Arab League received Iraq's request to hold an extraordinary session of the Arab League Council.”

“The request was circulated among member states for consultation, and it was agreed to hold the meeting tomorrow at the General Secretariat," Zaki said, adding that several Arab countries have expressed support for Iraq's initiative.