Arab League Secretary General Ahmed Aboul Gheit has reiterated his call for an immediate cessation of hostilities in Libya to end the bloodshed of innocent Libyans.
On the occasion of Eid al-Fitr, Aboul Gheit urged rival Libyan parties to abandon the military option and adhere to a ceasefire across Libya.
He stressed that a United Nations-sponsored political dialogue is the only solution for a comprehensive and permanent settlement to the conflict that has been tearing the country apart.
In a statement on Sunday, the top Arab League official said Libyans have been suffering from the atrocities of fighting, destruction, sabotage and division.
Repercussions of these hostilities have worsened over the course of 14 months since the start of the military battles in the outskirts of the capital, Tripoli, and the country’s western regions, he noted.
Aboul Gheit stressed that developments on the battlefield proved that none of both rival parties is able to impose coercive or individual solutions to achieve security and stability all over Libyan territories.
He renewed his appeal to the Libyan leaderships to “respond to the international appeals and efforts of the UN Support Mission in Libya (UNSMIL).”
These efforts, he explained, are aimed at resuming the negotiation process between the Government of National Accord and the Libyan National Army, within the “5+5” Libyan Joint Military Commission Framework, to reach an official agreement on a permanent and comprehensive ceasefire.
He also expressed concern over the rising foreign military interventions in Libyan affairs.
“All of which, regardless of their motives, are rejected and condemned in line with various decisions previously approved by the Arab League Council.”
Aboul Gheit stressed that the solution to the Libyan crisis should be internal, adding that foreign meddling only fuels the conflict and further contributes to divisions.
