TRIPOLI ( Halbeeg News) – UN secretary general, Antonio Guterres leaves Libya with “heavy heart” after failed talks with military strongman Khalifa Haftar whose troops are trying to march to Tripoli, seat of the internationally recognized unity government.
Armed clashes took place on Friday near Tripoli as eastern forces loyal to Haftar continued their advance towards the city, which is controlled by the UN-backed Government of National Accord (GNA) and protected by an array of militias.
“I still hope it is possible to avoid a bloody confrontation in and around Tripoli,” Guterres wrote on Twitter after meeting Haftar in his stronghold, the eastern city of Benghazi.
“The UN is committed to facilitating a political solution and, whatever happens, the UN is committed to supporting the Libyan people,” Guterres said.
The Tripoli-allied militias mobilized for “war” by deploying troops and moving weapons from the coastal towns of Misrata and Zawiya to areas around the capital.
US citizen General Khalifa Haftar ordered his self-styled Libyan National Army (LNA), which is allied to a parallel administration based in the east, to advance towards the capital.
Several governments and organizations have urged de-escalation, including those known to be Haftar’s key backers such as France and the United Arab Emirates (UAE).
The two countries, along with the UK, Italy and the United States, said in a joint statement on Friday that “military posturing and threats of unilateral action only risk propelling Libya back toward chaos”.
Maja Kocijancic, a spokeswoman for the European Commission, said the bloc is “deeply concerned by the military build-up that is underway in Libya and the escalatory rhetoric which seriously risks leading to an uncontrollable confrontation”.
Matteo Salvini, Italy’s interior minister, warned that the stability along the southern rim of the Mediterranean Sea was in danger, with Algeria also in turmoil following the uprising against its longtime ailing president.
Russia which has thrown its support behind Haftar in the past, distanced itself from the offensive.
Dmitry Peskov, a spokesman for President Vladimir Putin, denied any support for Haftar and emphasised the need “to avoid actions that would lead to the resumption of bloodshed”
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