Libya: Sarraj Discusses Situation in South

 Fayez al-Saraj with military commanders in Libyan capital. Asharq Al-Awsat
Fayez al-Saraj with military commanders in Libyan capital. Asharq Al-Awsat
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Libya: Sarraj Discusses Situation in South

 Fayez al-Saraj with military commanders in Libyan capital. Asharq Al-Awsat
Fayez al-Saraj with military commanders in Libyan capital. Asharq Al-Awsat

Libyan Prime Minister Fayez al-Sarraj discussed Saturday with commanders of his affiliated military regions the latest developments in the security situation in the south.

The commanders included Major General Mohammad al-Haddad, commander of the central region, Major General Osama al-Juwaili, commander of the Western military zone, and Major General Abdel Basset Marwan, commander of Tripoli military region, a statement issued by Sarraj’s office read.

It discussed the developments of the security situation in the southern region and the measures taken to equip the military force, which was established to protect and secure the region.

Sarraj also met with Italian Ambassador to Libya Giuseppe Beroni, who renewed his country's support for the Government of National Accord (GNA), the initiative of UN envoy Ghassan Salame and the democratic path leading to presidential and parliamentary elections.

On Friday evening, rumors and unofficial reports of armed militias spread, saying that armed militias, mostly loyal to Sarraj’s government, had carried out sudden military moves after mounting public and media rage against it.

This was followed by a report from the audit bureau, accusing the government of financial and administrative corruption.

The official Libyan channel of the government, which is backed by the United Nations Mission, denied what it described as rumors about the attack on its headquarters in the capital Tripoli.
It quoted an official security source denying the reports of the attack on the government’s offices.

The interior ministry in Sarraj’s government denied Saturday the news and rumors broadcast by some media channels and social media pages that the headquarters of the Prime Minister’s office was attacked by an armed group.



Syrian Security Forces Detain Cousin of Toppled Leader Assad

A giant picture of Syrian President Bashar Assad lies on the ground as a Syrian opposition fighter stands nearby, inside the Presidential Palace in Damascus, Syria, Sunday, Dec. 8, 2024. (AP Photo/Omar Sanadiki)
A giant picture of Syrian President Bashar Assad lies on the ground as a Syrian opposition fighter stands nearby, inside the Presidential Palace in Damascus, Syria, Sunday, Dec. 8, 2024. (AP Photo/Omar Sanadiki)
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Syrian Security Forces Detain Cousin of Toppled Leader Assad

A giant picture of Syrian President Bashar Assad lies on the ground as a Syrian opposition fighter stands nearby, inside the Presidential Palace in Damascus, Syria, Sunday, Dec. 8, 2024. (AP Photo/Omar Sanadiki)
A giant picture of Syrian President Bashar Assad lies on the ground as a Syrian opposition fighter stands nearby, inside the Presidential Palace in Damascus, Syria, Sunday, Dec. 8, 2024. (AP Photo/Omar Sanadiki)

Syria's security forces have detained Wassim al-Assad, a cousin of toppled leader Bashar al-Assad, state news agency SANA said on Saturday.

Wassim al-Assad was sanctioned by the United States in 2023 for leading a paramilitary force backing Assad's army and for trafficking drugs including the amphetamine-like drug captagon, Reuters said.

Bashar al-Assad was toppled by the opposition factions in December and fled to Moscow. Most of his family members and inner circle either fled Syria or went underground.

Syria’s new security forces have been pursuing members of the former administration - mainly those involved in the feared security branches accused of rights abuses.

Rights groups have called for a fully-fledged transitional justice process to hold them to account.