Military and security forces in the western region demanded that the Presidential Council dissolve the parliament in Tobruk, while Fathi Bashagha said that he would not use force to take over as prime minister after the parliament had previously chosen him to fill the position.
Military and security forces in the western region have called on the Presidential Council, in its capacity as the supreme commander of the Libyan army, to dissolve parliament and call for elections.
This came in a televised statement broadcast by local media, to a number of military and security forces in the western region, including Ghniwa al-Kikli, commander (commander) of the Stability Support Apparatus of the Presidential Council, Ayoub Bouras, deputy commander of the Presidential Guard, and a number of military leaders who participated in Operation Volcano of Rage against Forces of retired Major General Khalifa Haftar.
The statement added, "Our only option is to go to elections, and we reject the parliament's procedures related to forming a government in violation of the political agreement and the parliament's internal regulations. The Libyans witnessed the fraud that occurred in the parliament session today."
The military forces declared their keen interest in the security of the capital in particular and all parts of the country in general, and their refusal to drag it into any conflict.
Earlier today, the head of the Supreme Council of State, Khaled Al-Mashri, said that granting confidence to the House of Representatives in Tobruk (east) for a new government headed by Fathi Bashagha constitutes a violation of the "political agreement."
For its part, the National Unity Government headed by Abdel Hamid Dabaiba announced that it is continuing its duties, accusing the House of Representatives of falsifying the quorum set to grant confidence to the Bashagha government.
Smooth transition
For his part, Fathi Bashagha said that he expects to take over the position of Prime Minister in Tripoli in peace, despite Dabaiba's clinging to power.
But Bashagha made it clear that "there will be no use of force, neither by us nor by the existing government."
"Tomorrow I will take the oath before the House of Representatives, and after that I will go to Tripoli," noting that there will be arrangements to ensure a "normal and smooth" transition.
Bashagha, who previously held the position of Interior Minister, said that he is committed to holding elections next year within the time frame set by Parliament, adding that he wants to reach an agreement between the political institutions.
On February 10, the House of Representatives in Tobruk assigned Bashagha to form a new government, after presidential elections could not be held on December 24, due to differences between official institutions over the electoral laws and the role of the judiciary in the electoral process.