Protests in Tripoli to Demand End of Transitional Phase

Protesters in Tripoli’s Martyrs Square on Friday. Asharq Al-Awsat
Protesters in Tripoli’s Martyrs Square on Friday. Asharq Al-Awsat
TT

Protests in Tripoli to Demand End of Transitional Phase

Protesters in Tripoli’s Martyrs Square on Friday. Asharq Al-Awsat
Protesters in Tripoli’s Martyrs Square on Friday. Asharq Al-Awsat

Libyan demonstrators protested in Tripoli’s Martyrs Square on Friday, demanding the unity of state institutions and the termination of the transitional phase by holding a referendum before elections.

The protest was organized by a group of young Libyans under the title “March 30 Movement.” Hundreds began appearing in the square on Thursday evening to take part in Friday's protests.

As protest calls for the sake of changing the “political map” circulated on social networks, the official page of Al-Jazeera urged Libyans to demonstrate in the square.

On its Facebook page, the movement announced that it received security approval from the Security Directorate in Tripoli to protest peacefully in the square based on agreed demands and objectives.

“It is time to resort to the streets and unite through peaceful protest, to demand our rights and put an end to our suffering,” said the movement.

The protest, which coincided with the second anniversary of Chairman of the Presidential Council Fayez Sarraj’s entrance to Tripoli in line with the Skhirat Agreement, was preceded by several arrangements including preparing unified posters in the square and distributing white caps to the protesters.

Local media reports said that some figures close to the Islamic movement in Libya are promoting for the movement for the sake of changing the country’s “political map.”

Libyan journalist Hussein Masouri stated to Asharq Al-Awsat that the movement’s demands represent the majority of Libyans except for the referendum on the constitution.

UN envoy to Libya Ghassan Salame is seeking to organize elections in Libya by September.

In his latest remarks to the Security Council, he said efforts are underway to hold just and free elections by the end of the year.



France Declines to Comment on Algeria’s Anger over Recognition of Morocco’s Claim over Sahara

French President Emmanuel Macron and Algerian President Abdelmadjid Tebboune. (AFP file)
French President Emmanuel Macron and Algerian President Abdelmadjid Tebboune. (AFP file)
TT

France Declines to Comment on Algeria’s Anger over Recognition of Morocco’s Claim over Sahara

French President Emmanuel Macron and Algerian President Abdelmadjid Tebboune. (AFP file)
French President Emmanuel Macron and Algerian President Abdelmadjid Tebboune. (AFP file)

Paris declined to comment on Algeria’s “strong condemnation” of the French government’s decision to recognize Morocco’s claim over the Sahara.

The office of the French Foreign Ministry refused to respond to an AFP request for a comment on the Algeria’s stance.

It did say that further comments could impact the trip Algerian President Abdelmadjid Tebboune is set to make to France in late September or early October.

The visit has been postponed on numerous occasions over disagreements between the two countries.

France had explicitly expressed its constant and clear support for the autonomy rule proposal over the Sahara during Foreign Minister Stephane Sejourne’s visit to Morocco in February, reported AFP.

The position has helped improve ties between Rabat and Paris.

On Thursday, the Algerian Foreign Ministry expressed “great regret and strong denunciation" about the French government's decision to recognize an autonomy plan for the Western Sahara region "within Moroccan sovereignty”.

Algeria was informed of the decision by France in recent days, an Algerian foreign ministry statement added.

The ministry also said Algeria would draw all the consequences from the decision and hold the French government alone completely responsible.