United Nations envoy to Libya Ghassan Salame made a surprise visit to the country on Monday where he held talks with Libyan National Army (LNA) commander Khalifa Haftar in the eastern city of Benghazi.
His arrival coincided with Haftar’s announcement of the resumption of civilian flights from southern Libya.
Salame had announced upon his arrival in Benghazi that he will meet with several eastern Libya officials.
He urged Libyans to help him “dislodge the current political class”, calling on them to exert efforts to achieve political change in their country.
Moreover, he urged them to call for a national conference and for holding elections, accusing the political class of not being serious about reaching a solution to the country’s crisis because it wants to remain its position in power.
He stressed that he cannot dislodge the current political class without the help of the Libyan people.
Salame also said that presidential and parliamentary elections would not be possible without providing the necessary logistic, security and legislative conditions.
Later on Monday, Salame met with a group of parliamentarians in Benghazi and discussed with them the political process and possible scenarios for pushing it forward.
He also met with Benghazi municipality and city representatives, updating them on the reactivation of the UN hub in the region. He also discussed with them urgent issues that need close coordination between the mission and local authorities, tweeted the UN mission in Libya.
Prior to meeting the envoy, Haftar had ordered the resumption of flights from Sabha out of his keenness on the humanitarian and social conditions in the southern city.
The security forces will come under the supervision of the military zone in Sabha, announced an LNA commander.
On February 8, the LNA had announced the suspension of flights from the South, declaring the region a close military zone as part of its operation to liberate it from terrorist and criminal gangs.