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Libya: Clashes Erupt South of Tripoli Violating Ceasefire Deal

Smoke rises during heavy clashes between rival factions in Tripoli, Libya (File photo: Reuters)
Smoke rises during heavy clashes between rival factions in Tripoli, Libya (File photo: Reuters)
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Libya: Clashes Erupt South of Tripoli Violating Ceasefire Deal

Smoke rises during heavy clashes between rival factions in Tripoli, Libya (File photo: Reuters)
Smoke rises during heavy clashes between rival factions in Tripoli, Libya (File photo: Reuters)

Heavy clashes erupted Thursday in the Libyan capital violating the ceasefire deal, only to subside on Friday morning amid reports on the mobilization of troops of Libyan National Army (LNA) led by Khalifa Haftar and forces loyal to Government of National Accord (GNA) headed by Fayez al-Sarraj.

LNA advanced towards Tripoli as GNA forces retreated, a high-ranking military official told Asharq Al-Awsat in a brief statement.

The official, who asked to remain anonymous, said that the army forces managed during the past two days to thwart militia defenses in several areas of the capital, especially in its southern suburbs, but declined to reveal more details.

Heavy clashes erupted between the forces of the two parties near the diplomatic club in Ain Zara axis in southern Tripoli.

Two top officials of forces loyal to GNA stated they monitored LNA forces mobilizing in the areas of Qasr bin Ghashir, Tarhunah, and Sorman, adding that they transported artillery from al-Jafra airbase towards Tripoli.

Volcano of Rage Operation, launched by militias loyal to the GNA, indicated that LNA forces bombed the homes and properties of citizens, as worshipers went out for Friday prayers in the town of Abu Salim.

GNA Minister of Interior Fathi Bashagha pledged the ministry’s full support to the forces to liberate the entire country from LNA's "illegal militias".

In a statement, the minister said he was confident the government and supporting forces would fully liberate all areas.

Bashagha was visiting Sirte – al-Jufrah field operations room where he met with military officials and head of the operations room to discuss recent developments in the region and preparations to liberate the areas.

Meanwhile, Arab League (AL) Secretary-General Ahmed Aboul-Gheit and UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres discussed the recent developments of the Libyan crisis in the wake of the resignation of the UN envoy to Libya, Ghassan Salame.

Aboul-Gheit discussed, over the phone, Salame’s resignation and conveyed to Guterres his sincere appreciation for the important role he has played for Libya's peace and stability. He expressed confidence in the UN to choose another distinguished Arab figure to succeed Salame and lead UNSMIL.

Guterres praised the Arab League’s firm commitment to settling the Libyan crisis, stressing that the UN will continue to build on the efforts launched by Salame, according to a source.

Aboul-Gheit said they discussed the Libyan developments after Saleme’s sudden resignation citing health issues, noting that he briefed Guterres on the results of the last ministerial meeting of the Arab League.

Arab countries are committed to helping settle the Libyan crisis by strengthening mechanisms of cooperation with the UN and continuing to coordinate with other partners concerned with Libyan affairs, asserted Aboul-Gheit.

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Iraqi Officials Debate Country’s Future after Radical Changes in Syria

Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani meets with parliament Speaker Dr. Mahmoud al-Mashhadani on Friday. (Government's press office)
Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani meets with parliament Speaker Dr. Mahmoud al-Mashhadani on Friday. (Government's press office)
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Iraqi Officials Debate Country’s Future after Radical Changes in Syria

Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani meets with parliament Speaker Dr. Mahmoud al-Mashhadani on Friday. (Government's press office)
Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani meets with parliament Speaker Dr. Mahmoud al-Mashhadani on Friday. (Government's press office)

Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani dismissed on Saturday calls for changing the political system in the country in wake of the radical changes in Syria with the ouster of Bashar al-Assad's regime.

Speaking at a ceremony commemorating the death of former head of the Supreme Iraqi Council Mohammed Baqer al-Hakim in 2003, Sudani stressed that Iraq had sought to distance itself from the developments in Syria.

“Some parties are using the situation in Syria to attempt to change the system of rule in Iraq. This issue is not up for debate,” he declared, while acknowledging that the region had witnessed in over a year major developments that have resulted in significant political changes.

Iraq is built on a democratic pluralistic system and the peaceful transition of power, he went on to say. It allows reform and correcting any imbalances through the constitution and laws.

“No one has the right to impose change and reforms in any file, whether it is economic or security-related,” he stated, while admitting that reforms are needed in various sectors.

Sudani noted that Iraq has managed in recent months to hold provincial elections and a census and restructured relations with the anti-ISIS coalition.

“These issues were completed at the insistence of our government in achieving full sovereignty and eliminating any restrictions on Iraq’s international activities,” he added.

Moreover, the PM stressed the need to “steer Iraq clear of becoming an arena for war in the coming months. We have consulted with brothers and friends to that end.”

Iraq is ready to help ease the suffering of the people of Gaza and Lebanon, he added.

Meanwhile, parliament Speaker Dr. Mahmoud al-Mashhadan reminded political forces of the “political settlement” document that the main political powers adopted in 2018 and which calls for turning Iraq into a unified state, rather than one formed of various “components”.

Speaking at the same commemoration, he called on the forces opposed to the document to “show some responsibility” and adopt it.

Furthermore, he urged all political powers to support and strengthen the current government because weakening it will weaken the entire political process in the country.

The “political settlement,” he explained, is a “clear roadmap that was handed to head of the Hikma Movement Ammar al-Hakim when he was head of a number of allies Shiite groups.”

Top leaderships and all political groups agreed to the settlement, which was handed to the United Nations. The settlement was supposed to be implemented in 2018, remarked the speaker.

“Had we implemented it, we would have met several demands that were made to us,” he noted.

Hakim, for his part, rejected that Iraq become an arena of “foreign influence.”

“Iraq must be treated as an independent sovereign state,” he stressed at the commemoration

“This is not a choice, but a need imposed by the sacrifices of our people and their right to build their own future,” he said.

He therefore called for launching “comprehensive regional dialogue aimed at setting permanent paths for understanding and cooperation between regional countries.”

“Dialogue is a means to achieve peace and stability,” he underscored.