Commander of the Libyan National Army Khalifa Haftar declared on Thursday the liberation of the eastern city of Derna from the clutches of extremists.
He said in a televised address to his troops: “Today, the banner of terrorism is lowered by your victories, to be replaced by the banner of peace and tranquility despite the terrorists and those who support them.”
He added that his forces were still pursuing fugitive gunmen in the oil crescent region, which his army seized days earlier.
Haftar also implicitly rejected demands that control of the region be handed over to the Tripoli-based Government of National Accord of Prime Minister Fayez al-Sarraj.
“The LNA made great sacrifices in defending the resources of the people, who refuse to see this wealth become a source of funding for terrorist and mercenary gangs or become a pawn to achieve international interests at the expense of the people,” he added.
Residents of the eastern region are expected to hold popular rallies in support of the LNA’s capture of the oil crescent.
His move has, however, drawn the criticism of the United States, France and United Nations, all of whom demanded that oil facilities be restored to the Tripoli government.
French Ambassador to Libya Brigitte Curmi held talks with Haftar and other officials in the east on the latest developments in the oil region.
A brief statement from Haftar’s office said that the officials discussed the Paris conference and a number of local and international developments.
Paris hosted last month a meeting for the rival Libyan leaders, who agreed to hold presidential and parliamentary elections in December.
US Charge d’Affaires Stephanie Williams condemned the attacks on the oil region, led by militia leader Ibrahim al-Jadhran, while also expressing deep concern over the oil facilities being handed over to the Benghazi-based National Oil Corporation (NOC), which it described as an illegal entity.
Another NOC is based in Tripoli and affiliated to the Sarraj government, which is recognized by the international community.
The US believes that vital Libyan resources must remain under the exclusive control of the legitimate NOC and the supervision of the only government, that of Sarraj, in accordance to UN resolutions, she added.
UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres echoed Washington’s demand, saying the oil facilities should be handed over to the Sarraj government.
Sarraj, for his part, held talks in the capital with Mustafa Sanalla, chairman of the Tripoli-based NOC.
The PM stressed that the oil wealth belongs to the Libyan people and is their only source of income.
This wealth should be kept away from all forms of conflict and remain under control of his government and NOC, he added.
