US Denies Links with Efforts to Postpone Libyan Elections

A photo distributed by the US Ambassador to Libya during his visit to a polling station accompanied by the Head of the Electoral Commission in Tripoli.
A photo distributed by the US Ambassador to Libya during his visit to a polling station accompanied by the Head of the Electoral Commission in Tripoli.
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US Denies Links with Efforts to Postpone Libyan Elections

A photo distributed by the US Ambassador to Libya during his visit to a polling station accompanied by the Head of the Electoral Commission in Tripoli.
A photo distributed by the US Ambassador to Libya during his visit to a polling station accompanied by the Head of the Electoral Commission in Tripoli.

The United States has denied any intervention in Libya’s affairs, affirming that the country’s fate and its elections is a matter only Libyans get to decide.

Spokesman for the United Nations Support Mission in Libya (UNSMIL) had refuted what was attributed to UN Special Advisor for Libya Stephanie Williams about a road map related to the elections, scheduled for December 24.

He pointed out that her mission is to lead the mediation efforts between the Libyans to help them implement the three-point-plan emanating from the Berlin conference, including supporting the elections not deciding its outcomes.

Williams is currently conducting consultations and listening to the point of views of involved Libyan parties from various political, social and security spectrums, the spokesman affirmed, noting that only Libyans get to have decisions on the upcoming elections.

The US Special Envoy and Ambassador to Libya, Richard Norland, arrived in Tripoli on Monday for discussions on providing support for the electoral process.

“The US continues to support the vast majority of Libyans who want elections and to cast a vote for their country’s future,” Norland said.

“A major takeaway from our visit is that Libyans, and numerous Libyan institutions and organizations, are working toward this goal.”

He pointed out that the US is working to be a partner in this process, allowing Libyans to make the choice, adding that it does not support any particular candidate, but rather the process.

“The US will continue to engage with Libyan institutions and leaders with the goal of peaceful, free, fair, inclusive and credible presidential and parliamentary elections that will pave the way for a unified and stable future for Libya.,” Norland asserted.

The ambassador met with Head of Libya’ss Government of National Unity (GNU) Abdulhamid al-Dbeibah for a discussion of key Libyan issues in the context of the electoral campaign.

He also met with Williams and several Libyan officials and civil society activists.



Al-Sudani Orders Crackdown after Acts of Violence Against Syrians in Iraq

Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani
Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani
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Al-Sudani Orders Crackdown after Acts of Violence Against Syrians in Iraq

Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani
Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani

Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani ordered the formation of a security team to pursue those responsible for "committing disgraceful acts of violence" against a number of Syrians working in the country, the PM’s office said in a statement on Tuesday.
“A video circulating on social media shows a masked group from a faction calling itself ‘Ya Ali Popular Formations’ carrying out reprehensible acts of violence against Syrian workers in Iraq,” the PM's spokesman, Sabah al-Numan, said in a statement.
“Al-Sudani immediately directed the formation of a specialized security team to pursue those responsible for these illegal acts, which have nothing to do with Iraqi morals,” the statement said.
“We strongly condemn these acts, which violate all human and moral values. They also constitute a violation of human dignity and rights,” it added.

The spokesman then affirmed that the law will be fully enforced without leniency or discrimination against anyone proven to be involved in these attacks.