Deadlocked negotiations. The Libyan government of national unity (GNA), based in the capital and recognized by the UN, announced the night of Tuesday to Wednesday the suspension of its participation in the work of a joint military commission in Geneva, under the aegis of the United Nations, following repeated breaches of the truce.
"We are announcing the suspension of our participation in the military talks which are taking place in Geneva until firm positions are adopted against the aggressor (Khalifa Haftar) and his violations" of the truce, said the GNA in a press release.
Confirmed at the international summit on January 19 in Berlin, this joint military commission is composed in the so-called "5 + 5" format, with five members representing the GNA and five others Marshal Khalifa Haftar, a strong man from eastern Libya whose forces have been trying to seize Tripoli since last April.
15 rockets fired Tuesday
In the early afternoon of Tuesday, the seaport of Tripoli and al-Chaab, a secondary port, were the target of more than 15 rockets, despite the entry into force in January of a cease-fire shortly respected by the conflicting forces in Libya. Amin al-Hachemi, spokesman for the Ministry of Health, said three civilians were killed and five others injured.
"It is clear that the objective of systematic bombing of residential areas, the airport and the port, in addition to the total blockage of petroleum installations, is to provoke crises for citizens in all aspects of their lives", a noted the release.
According to the GNA, having "failed militarily to seize power, the aggressor (Haftar) tries, in vain, to create a state of confusion to destabilize" the population. In addition, the GNA condemned the "violations committed before and during the truce", calling them "documented war crimes", requiring international "arrest warrants".
He denounced "continued contempt" for the Security Council resolution adopted last week and the decisions of the international summit in Berlin. Libyan belligerents began a new round of indirect military talks on Tuesday, in the presence of the United Nations envoy for Libya, Ghassan Salamé. “Without a lasting cease-fire (…) negotiations make no sense. There can be no peace under the bombing, ”said the GNA.
- World