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Sarraj Discusses LNA Oil Agreement Fallout in Turkey

Oil installations in Ras Lanuf on the Libyan coast (Reuters)
Oil installations in Ras Lanuf on the Libyan coast (Reuters)
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Sarraj Discusses LNA Oil Agreement Fallout in Turkey

Oil installations in Ras Lanuf on the Libyan coast (Reuters)
Oil installations in Ras Lanuf on the Libyan coast (Reuters)

Turkey launched new efforts to protect the Libyan camp it supports, especially after the head of the Government of National Accord (GNA) Fayez al-Sarraj announced his intentions to resign.

The efforts follow a controversial deal arranged between Sarraj’s deputy, Ahmed Maiteeq, and the Libyan National Army (LNA) on the resumption of oil production.

Sarraj kickstarted a surprise visit to Turkey on Monday. GNA-linked sources revealed that Ankara gave Maiteeq a similar invitation within the framework of consolidating the GNA camp against Field Marshal Khalifa Haftar, the LNA’s commander in chief.

The head of the GNA’s High Council of State, Khaled Al-Mishri, also visited Turkey and met with the Turkish Defense Minister Hulusi Akar.

According to a statement by the ministry, Akar told Mishri that Turkey will continue to stand by the GNA as officials exchanged views regarding the latest developments in the war-ravaged North African nation.

The meetings come a few days after Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan saying that Turkey was upset by Sarraj's announcement that he planned to quit by the end of October.

Nevertheless, Erdogan said that his country will continue to support the GNA, despite the announcement by Sarraj.

Presidential Spokesman Ibrahim Kalin added in a statement to the Turkish Demiroren News Agency that support for the GNA, along with the signed memorandum of understanding (MoU) between both parties is set to continue both in its maritime and security sectors.

He went on to explain that these agreements, will not be affected at this uncertain political period, as they were initiated between two governments, not through any single individual, adding that Turkish officials are due to travel to Tripoli within the coming days to discuss developments following Sarraj's announcement.

GNA Presidential Council (PC) member Mohamed Amari, for his part, voiced his rejection of the agreement between the Maiteeq and Haftar, saying that it is unlawful and cannot be ratified.

GNA Minister of Defense Salah Eddin al-Namroush also rejected the resumption of oil exports. He said the crimes committed in Libya would not be forgotten.

Namroush vowed in a statement published on the site of the GNA Ministry of Defense to lodge a complaint at the UN against the perpetrators of those crimes.

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Syrians Commemorate Uprising Anniversary for First Time Since Assad's Fall

This is the first celebration of the Syria's 2011 uprising since the fall of Bashar al-Assad (AFP/Bakr ALKASEM)
This is the first celebration of the Syria's 2011 uprising since the fall of Bashar al-Assad (AFP/Bakr ALKASEM)
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Syrians Commemorate Uprising Anniversary for First Time Since Assad's Fall

This is the first celebration of the Syria's 2011 uprising since the fall of Bashar al-Assad (AFP/Bakr ALKASEM)
This is the first celebration of the Syria's 2011 uprising since the fall of Bashar al-Assad (AFP/Bakr ALKASEM)

Syrians gathered on Saturday to commemorate the 14th anniversary of their uprising in public demonstrations in Damascus for the first time since president Bashar al-Assad was toppled.

The demonstration in Damascus's Umayyad Square is the first in the capital after years of repression under Assad, during which the square was the sole preserve of the ousted president's supporters.

Activists also called on people to gather in the cities of Homs, Idlib and Hama at demonstrations under the slogan "Syria is victorious".

By the afternoon, dozens of people had gathered in the capital's Umayyad Square, amid a heavy security presence and with military helicopters overhead dropping leaflets bearing the slogan "there is no room for hate among us".

Security forces were stationed at all entrances to the square, with some of them handing out flowers to demonstrators while speakers blared revolutionary and Islamic songs, AFP reported.

Many attendees waved the Syrian flag -- officially changed from one used under Assad to the design from the independence era -- and held signs reading "the revolution has triumphed".

Hanaa al-Daghri, 32, was among those in the square and told AFP "what is happening now is a dream we never dared to imagine".

"I left Damascus 12 years ago because I was wanted, and I would have never had any hope of returning were it not for the liberation," she said.

"We are missing many friends who are no longer with us, but their bloodshed brought us to where we are today."

Under bright sunlight, Abdul Moneim Nimr, 41, stood surrounded by his friends who raised a large flag and began dancing and singing.

"We used to celebrate the anniversary of the revolution in northern Syria and today we are celebrating in Umayyad Square. This is a blessed victory," he said.

Syria's conflict began with peaceful demonstrations on March 15, 2011, in which thousands protested against Assad's government, before it spiralled into civil war after his violent repression of the protests.

This year's commemoration marks the first since Assad was toppled on December 8 by opposition factions.

Ahmed al-Sharaa, who headed the group Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) which spearheaded the offensive, has since been named interim president.

Hundreds also gathered at the main square in the opposition's former stronghold of Idlib, an AFP journalist saw, raising the flags of Syria and HTS amid a heavy security presence and despite the Ramadan fast and relatively hot weather.

On Thursday, Sharaa signed into force a constitutional declaration regulating a five-year transition period before a permanent constitution is to be put into place.

Analysts have criticised the declaration, saying it grants too much power to Sharaa and fails to provide sufficient protection to the country's minorities.

It also came a week after Syria's Mediterranean coast, the heartland of Assad's Alawite minority, was gripped by the worst wave of violence since his overthrow.

According to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights war monitor, security forces and allied groups killed at least 1,500 civilians, mainly Alawites, in the violence that began on March 6.

The United Nations special envoy for Syria, Geir Pedersen, said on Friday: "It is fourteen years since Syrians took to the streets in peaceful protest, demanding dignity, freedom and a better future."

He added in a statement that despite the brutal civil war, "the resilience of Syrians and their pursuit of justice, dignity and peace endure. And they now deserve a transition that is worthy of this."

He called for "an immediate end to all violence and for protection of civilians".

On the occasion of the anniversary, the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Council in northeast Syria reiterated its objection to the constitutional declaration, saying it "did not adequately reflect the aspirations of the Syrian people to build a just and democratic state".