United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres called on all parties in Libya late Friday night for an immediate ceasefire and the resumption of political dialogue. For his part, retired Major General Khalifa Haftar declared "an exile" to repel any Turkish military intervention.
Guterres, in a statement issued by his spokesman, Farhan Haq, reiterated that any foreign support for the warring parties will only deepen the ongoing conflict and will further complicate the efforts made to reach a peaceful and comprehensive political solution.
Haq indicated that the Secretary-General reaffirms that the continuing violations of the arms embargo imposed by Security Council resolution 1970 (2011) and its amendment in subsequent resolutions make matters worse.
Guterres also stressed that "strict adherence to the embargo is necessary to create an appropriate environment for a cessation of hostilities," again calling for "an immediate ceasefire in Libya and the return of all parties to political dialogue."
| Turkish parliament approved sending troops to Libya (Al-Jazeera) |
Approval and warning
Guterres' warning comes the day after the Turkish parliament approved a memorandum submitted by President Recep Tayyip Erdogan authorizing the sending of military forces to support the internationally recognized government of national reconciliation - based in Tripoli - in the face of an attack launched against it for months by the retired Major General.
The Turkish authorities say they are moving based on a request for support they have received from the government of National Accord headed by Fayez al-Sarraj, which is facing an attack led by Haftar who wants to control the capital, Tripoli.
For his part, Yaqoub Al-Helou, Deputy Special Representative of the Secretary-General, Resident International Coordinator and Humanitarian Coordinator today, Saturday, expressed his strong condemnation of the air strikes and the intense bombing of the Libyan capital and its environs.
"I am shocked by the continuing indiscriminate attacks on civilian areas and civilian infrastructure, which claim more innocent lives. Parties to the conflict must realize that indiscriminate attacks against civilians and civilian infrastructure and the direct targeting of health workers and health facilities may constitute a war crime," Helou said in a statement. ".
| Al-Wefaq government forces during previous clashes with Haftar forces on the outskirts of Tripoli (Reuters) |
War and chaos
Libya has been mired in chaos - since the overthrow of the regime of late President Muammar Gaddafi in 2011 - violent clashes since the fourth of April, when Haftar forces launched an offensive to control Tripoli, the headquarters of the government of reconciliation.
Yesterday evening, Friday, the retired Major General announced, in a televised speech Friday, "Al-Nafeer and Jihad" to repel any Turkish military intervention in his country.
Haftar said in a speech broadcast late on Friday night, "Libya Al Hadath", which is based in Benghazi (east), "We declare confrontation, accept challenges and close ranks, and reject our differences between us, and declare jihad, alienation and comprehensive mobilization, and that every Libyan is free to carry arms, men and women, military And civilians, to defend our land, our honor, and our honor. "
He considered that "the battle today is no longer for the liberation of the capital. Rather, it is intensified by a fierce war in the face of a brutal colonialist who sees Libya as a historical legacy and dreams of restoring an empire built by its ancestors, blaming poverty, ignorance, backwardness, arrogance, conquering the Arab nation and plundering its wealth."
Haftar also called on the Turks to rise up against Erdogan, "a foolish adventurer who pushes his army to perish and ignites discord between Muslims and the peoples of the entire region to satisfy his whims."
The Libyan parliament, based in the east of the country, considered any Turkish military intervention at the request of the Al-Wefaq government a "great betrayal", while the Al-Wefaq government justified its request for Turkish intervention as a "legitimate right" to defend its international legitimacy and protect civilians in Tripoli from the Haftar attack.