The city of Benghazi (eastern Libya) witnessed a campaign of arrests by the security services loyal to the retired Major General Khalifa Haftar and militants from his brigades, while a number of political elites put forward an initiative to solve the Libyan crisis by organizing an expanded conference that brings together all the parties.
Sources reported to Al-Jazeera that the arrests targeted young men from the city in anticipation of the demonstrations tomorrow, Monday, called by activists to protest against the deterioration of living conditions and the spread of corruption.
Several days ago, the eastern cities of Libya - most notably Al-Bayda, Benghazi and Al-Marj - witnessed a popular movement in protest against corruption, poor living conditions and power cuts.
Activists called for the speedy holding of early elections, including the removal of all political parties that they described as corrupt.
In the meantime, a number of political elites put forward an initiative to solve the Libyan crisis under the name "The Inclusive Libyan National Unity Conference", calling for an expanded conference attended by 160 members representing all Libyan municipalities.
The principles of the charter - proposed by the preparatory committee for the conference - stressed the unity of the Libyan territory, the adoption of a decentralized system in the management of the country, the rejection of foreign interference, and the consolidation of the principle of the peaceful transfer of power.
The initiative provides for the formation of a new presidential council consisting of a president and two deputies, forming a government of competencies and setting a date for parliamentary elections within a period not exceeding 3 months from the date of the conference.
Forces of the National Accord Government near Sirte (Reuters - Archive)
For his part, the German ambassador to Libya, Oliver Ovtsha, called on the Libyan parties to ensure a legitimate and peaceful transfer of power, during his meeting in Tripoli with the head of the Presidency Council of the Government of National Accord, Fayez al-Sarraj.
According to his media office, Al-Sarraj agreed with the German ambassador on the importance of adhering to the outcomes of the Berlin conference, to solve the Libyan crisis.
Earlier, the head of the Supreme Council of State, Khaled Al-Mishri, discussed with the German ambassador the proposed ceasefire initiatives.
For his part, the Minister of Defense in the Government of National Accord, Salah al-Din al-Nimroush, expressed his rejection of any dialogue that does not include representatives of the Accord Forces, adding in a tweet on Twitter that he welcomes any political solution in which Haftar is not a party.
Al-Nimroush’s statements come after widespread condemnation of the understandings that took place between Ahmed Maitiq, Vice President of the Presidency Council, and representatives of Haftar.
In turn, the Sirte and Jufrah Operations Room confirmed its refusal to be a party to any political maneuvers, and Abdul Hadi Daraa, spokesman for the Sirte and Jufrah Operations Room, called on all Libyan political forces to reject differences and give priority to Libya's interest.