Sarraj Holds Onto Civilian State in Libya, Rotation of Power

Head of Libya's Government of National Accord (GNA) Fayez al-Sarraj attends a meeting in Rome on March 20, 2017. Remo Casilli / Reuters
Head of Libya's Government of National Accord (GNA) Fayez al-Sarraj attends a meeting in Rome on March 20, 2017. Remo Casilli / Reuters
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Sarraj Holds Onto Civilian State in Libya, Rotation of Power

Head of Libya's Government of National Accord (GNA) Fayez al-Sarraj attends a meeting in Rome on March 20, 2017. Remo Casilli / Reuters
Head of Libya's Government of National Accord (GNA) Fayez al-Sarraj attends a meeting in Rome on March 20, 2017. Remo Casilli / Reuters

Head of Libya's Government of National Accord (GNA) Fayez al-Sarraj described Libya as a civilian state amid preparations by the Libyan National Army (LNA) “to liberate Tripoli.”

During his meeting with 50 members of the House of Representatives led by the deputy speaker, Fawzi al-Nuwairi, he talked about his vision on the civilian state, the unity of its sovereign institutions, and separation and rotation of power.

According to the statement, Sarraj underscored the importance of national accord and tackled the National Dialogue Conference (NDC) to set the stage for elections.

He pointed out that the conferees expressed their support to the civil state and the NDC that is set to be held in mid-April in Ghadames, northwestern Libya.

Further, Speaker Aguila Saleh assured that all matters will be on track as he met the foreign minister of the government allied with the parliament, Abdulhadi al-Hweij. Saleh noted that the legitimate bodies should cooperate to overcome this phase, according to the statement.

In return, Libyan National Army (LNA) commander Khalifa Haftar said that he wants to put an end to the suffering of the Libyans. During his meeting with a delegation of EU ambassadors, Haftar said he was seeking the creation of a state that provides security to Libyans.

His statement coincided with Troops of 115 Task Force Battalion affirming that its members are ready to liberate Tripoli.

“Tripoli is in our hearts,” the battalion said on Thursday on its Facebook page.

Its members “are ready to sacrifice their lives by either reaching victory or martyrdom,” it said.



US Journalist Missing in Syria Since 2012 Is Believed to Be Alive, Says Aid Group

A banner for journalist Austin Tice, who disappeared while reporting in Syria in 2012, hangs outside the National Press Club building in Washington, US, May 2, 2023. (Reuters)
A banner for journalist Austin Tice, who disappeared while reporting in Syria in 2012, hangs outside the National Press Club building in Washington, US, May 2, 2023. (Reuters)
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US Journalist Missing in Syria Since 2012 Is Believed to Be Alive, Says Aid Group

A banner for journalist Austin Tice, who disappeared while reporting in Syria in 2012, hangs outside the National Press Club building in Washington, US, May 2, 2023. (Reuters)
A banner for journalist Austin Tice, who disappeared while reporting in Syria in 2012, hangs outside the National Press Club building in Washington, US, May 2, 2023. (Reuters)

American journalist Austin Tice is believed to be still alive, according to the head of an international aid group.

Nizar Zakka, who runs the Hostage Aid Worldwide organization, said there has never been any proof that Tice, who has been missing since 2012, is dead.

He told reporters in Damascus on Tuesday that Tice was alive in January and being held by the authorities of ousted Bashar al-Assad. He added that US President Joe Biden said in August that Tice was alive.

Zakka said Tice was transferred between security agencies over the past 12 years, including in an area where Iranian-backed fighters were operating.

Asked if it was possible Tice had been taken out of the country, Zakka said Assad most likely kept him in Syria as a potential bargaining chip.

Biden said Dec. 8 that his administration believed Tice was alive and was committed to bringing him home, though he also acknowledged that “we have no direct evidence” of his status.