On June 14 Special Presidential Representative for the Middle East and Africa and Deputy Foreign Minister Mikhail Bogdanov had a telephone conversation with UN Secretary-General’s Special Representative for Libya Martin Kobler at the latter’s initiative. During the conversation the officials discussed the situation in Libya and related developments, such as the recent contacts between the leadership of the United … Read more
Forces loyal to Libya’s unity government said Saturday that 52 of its fighters were killed as they repelled rival militias in fierce clashes in the capital Tripoli. Apart from sporadic gunfire in southern Tripoli, calm returned to the city on Saturday, the first day of the Muslim holy month of Ramadan. Among the 52 killed … Read more
Forces loyal to Libyan military strongman Khalifa Haftar have bombed rival forces in retaliation for a deadly attack on an airbase in the south of the country, media reported Sunday. “Warplanes launched air strikes overnight Saturday as part of the Martyrs of Brak al-Shati operation,” the LANA news agency said in reference to the airbase … Read more
An attack on an airbase in southern Libya has killed at least 141 people, mostly soldiers loyal to renegade General’s Khalifa Haftar’s self-proclaimed Libyan National Army (LNA), a spokesman for his forces said. LNA’s Ahmad al-Mismari told the AFP news agency on Friday that members of a militia loyal to the UN-backed Government of National … Read more
Reports suggest as many as 140 people, including civilians, may have died in an attack on an airbase in Libya. It was originally thought 60 people died when a government-allied militia tried to take over the Brak al-Shati base on Thursday. The UN-backed government’s defence minister and the commander of the militia have both been … Read more
An attack on an airbase in south Libya has killed 141 people, mostly soldiers loyal to military strongman Khalifa Haftar, a spokesman for his forces said on Friday. Members of the Third Force militia loyal to the UN-backed Government of National Accord in Tripoli on Thursday attacked the base used by Haftar’s self-proclaimed Libyan National … Read more
The United Nations envoy to Libya on Friday condemned a deadly attack by forces loyal to the unity government on a military base controlled by forces backing a rival administration. Members of the Third Force militia loyal to the UN-backed Government of National Accord in Tripoli attacked an airbase used by military strongman Khalifa Haftar’s … Read more
The head of Libya’s UN-backed unity government and a rival military commander said Wednesday they have agreed to work to end the country’s crisis. Government of National Accord (GNA) leader Fayez al-Sarraj and Field Marshal Khalifa Haftar, whose forces control most of eastern Libya including key oil ports, held rare talks Tuesday in the United … Read more
The United Arab Emirates voiced optimism a political settlement could be reached in Libya after it hosted rare talks on Tuesday between its strongman ally and the internationally recognised premier. The UAE is, with Egypt, the main supporter of Field Marshal Khalifa Haftar, whose forces control most of eastern Libya, including its key oil ports, … Read more
A quartet of international groups said Saturday it supported efforts by Libya’s unity government to assert control over Tripoli after days of fighting with rival militias. The Cairo meeting by representatives of the United Nations, European Union, Arab League and African Union came a day after gunmen opened fire at demo nstrators protesting against militias … Read more
Artillery exchanges rocked the Libyan capital for a third day on Wednesday after forces loyal to the UN-backed government stormed the headquarters of a rival militia overnight, witnesses said. Libya has experienced years of violence and lawlessness since the NATO-backed ouster of longtime dictator Moamer Kadhafi in 2011, with rival parliaments and governments trading barbs … Read more
A ceasefire went into force early Saturday in the Libyan capital after two days of fighting between rival gunmen injured nine people and forced residents to cower indoors, the government said. The fighting between two rival armed groups in eastern Tripoli erupted on Thursday after one accused the other of kidnapping four of its members, … Read more
Six years after the start of an uprising that toppled a dictator, Libyans in Tripoli see no reason to celebrate with power cuts, exorbitant prices and insecurity plaguing their daily lives. At a moment’s notice, shopkeepers in the Libyan capital pull down their shutters, cars make sudden u-turns and gunshots ring out in the empty … Read more
Libya’s transition has been bogged down by insecurity and chaos, leaving the country looking like a “failed state” six years after the NATO-backed uprising that ended Moamer Kadhafi’s rule. “We got rid of one dictator only to see 10,000 others take his place,” said Fatma al-Zawi, a Tripoli housewife, bemoaning the multitude of warlords and … Read more
The head of Libya’s unity government and a rival army chief were to meet in Cairo on Tuesday to find a solution to turmoil in the country, a government official said. The UN-backed Government of National Accord has struggled to assert its authority across the North African country since starting work in Tripoli nearly a … Read more
UN chief Antonio Guterres on Monday said he “deeply” regretted opposition to former Palestinian prime minister Salam Fayyad as the organisation’s peace envoy to Libya, days after Washington vetoed the appointment. “I deeply regret this opposition and I do not see any reason for it,” Guterres said at the annual World Government Summit hosted by … Read more
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Sunday hailed the US veto of a Palestinian to be named UN envoy to Libya, saying the world body failed to give equal consideration to Israelis. “I was informed of the possibility of the appointment of Salaam Fayyad to a UN position,” he said at Israel’s weekly cabinet meeting. “I … Read more
The United States blocked the appointment of former Palestinian prime minister Salam Fayyad to be the new UN envoy to Libya. US Ambassador Nikki Haley said in a statement that she did not “support the signal this appointment would send within the United Nations,” where the state of Palestine does not have full membership. UN … Read more
UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on Saturday defended his choice of former Palestinian prime minister Salam Fayyad to be the UN peace envoy to Libya after the United States blocked the appointment. The decision to put forward his candidacy “was solely based on Mr Fayyad’s recognized personal qualities and his competence for that position,” said UN … Read more