Libya’s Menfi Warns FM for Committing Violation

Head of the Presidential Council of Libya Mohamed al-Menfi (Reuters)
Head of the Presidential Council of Libya Mohamed al-Menfi (Reuters)
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Libya’s Menfi Warns FM for Committing Violation

Head of the Presidential Council of Libya Mohamed al-Menfi (Reuters)
Head of the Presidential Council of Libya Mohamed al-Menfi (Reuters)

Head of the Libyan Presidential Council Mohammad al-Menfi has warned Foreign Minister Najla Mangoush, saying she committed a violation after dismissing and replacing three ambassadors and delegates.

In a message leaked to the media, Menfi asked Mangoush to refrain from such measures in the future, unless done in accordance with the law, political agreement, and the Libyan Political Dialogue Forum.

Menfi toured Sirte on Wednesday for the first time and visited a number of main streets that include shops and cafes.

Upon landing at Gardabiya International Airport, Menfi was received by a number of security and local officials including leaders of the Libyan National Army (LNA), which controls the city, as well as a number of lawmakers.

A number of Sirte residents asked the head of the Presidential Council to improve their living conditions after years of destruction and wars, according to the Libyan News Agency.

Menfi expressed hope that the unity government, chaired by Abdul Hamid Dbeibah, would address various problems in Libyan cities, especially those affected by conflict.

He pointed out that the government recently decided to establish funds for the reconstruction of destroyed cities, including Sirte.

Meanwhile, Moussa al-Kouni, a member of the Presidential Council, announced Algeria's agreement to reopen the Ghat-Ghadames border crossing with Libya.

Kouni expressed in a tweet his gratitude for Algeria's Foreign Minister Sabri Boukadoum, who ordered the re-opening of the Ghat-Ghadames crossing border, indicating that the closing of borders has made the conditions in these areas more difficult.

He said this step will contribute to resolving the conditions of the people and residents of the border areas, revealing that the Libyan FM will meet her Algerian counterpart and a number of businessmen to discuss the matter.

In turn, Dbeibah toured on Wednesday a number of municipalities of al-Jaffara and met with the mayors and residents.

The government’s media office issued a statement indicating that the meeting discussed the situation in the region, and the prime minister promised to review their needs and direct the concerned authorities to address the urgent challenges.

Dbeibah received a phone call from US Republican Senator Lindsey Graham, who stressed that all aspects of the Libyan Government of National Unity should meet the deadlines and make the necessary changes to ensure a successful election.



Lebanon's PM Says Country to Begin Disarming South Litani to Ensure State Presence

President Joseph Aoun met with PM Najib Mikati at Baabda palace. (NNA)
President Joseph Aoun met with PM Najib Mikati at Baabda palace. (NNA)
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Lebanon's PM Says Country to Begin Disarming South Litani to Ensure State Presence

President Joseph Aoun met with PM Najib Mikati at Baabda palace. (NNA)
President Joseph Aoun met with PM Najib Mikati at Baabda palace. (NNA)

Lebanese caretaker Prime Minister Najib Mikati said on Friday that the state will begin disarming southern Lebanon, particularly the south Litani region, to establish its presence across the country.
"We are in a new phase - in this new phase, we will start with south Lebanon and south Litani specifically in order to pull weapons so that the state can be present across Lebanese territory," Mikati said.

Mikati's remarks followed a meeting with newly elected President Joseph Aoun at the Baabda Presidential Palace. Aoun was elected as the country's new head of state by parliament on Thursday, ending a vacancy in the presidency that had persisted for over two years.

In his address to parliament, Aoun pledged to control weapons outside the state's control, saying the government is the sole entity authorized to possess and use military force and weapons.
A ceasefire agreement that ended the 13-month-conflict between Israel and Hezbollah in November has given the Lebanese party 60 days to end its armed presence in southern Lebanon, while Israeli forces are also required to withdraw from the area over the same period.
The ceasefire agreement says Israeli forces will move south of the Blue Line “in a phased manner” within 60 days. The Lebanese army’s troops will deploy “in parallel” to the positions.