Commander of the Libyan National Army (LNA) Khalifa Haftar filed Tuesday as a candidate in the country’s presidential elections next month.
Haftar submitted his candidacy papers Tuesday in the eastern city of Benghazi and announced the move in a video.
He said he's seeking the country's highest post to “lead our people in a fateful stage,” The Associated Press reported.
The announcement comes after Saif al-Islam al-Gaddafi, the son of slain longtime ruler Moammar Gaddafi, submitted candidacy papers Sunday in the southern town of Sabha.
Seif al-Islam, who is wanted by the International Criminal Court on charges of crimes against humanity, has spent years largely in hiding.
He was tried in absentia in 2015 by a Tripoli court at which he appeared via videolink from Zintan, and which sentenced him to death for war crimes including killing protesters during the 2011 revolt.
He would likely face arrest or other dangers if he appeared publicly in the capital Tripoli. He is also wanted by the International Criminal Court.
If accepted, both Haftar and Seif al-Islam would be among front-runners in the Dec. 24 vote.
