Libyan armed forces are important to protect the country and fight against extremist and criminal groups in the south, announced Libyan National Army (LNA) commander Khalifa Haftar.
Speaking during his meeting with a delegation of the Hasawna tribe, Haftar valued the efforts of the tribes and their support to the army in its war against terrorism and invaders.
In turn, the delegation of the tribal elders lauded Haftar’s efforts to bring peace and unite the military establishment and all Libyans together.
Meanwhile, the Interior Minister at the government of national accord (GNA), Fathi Bashagha, made a surprise visit to France to discuss the political situation in Libya, as well as the bilateral security coordination and intel exchange, according to a source close to the Minister.
Local media reported that Bashagha, who is close to Turkey, sought to obtain France’s support for his candidacy to succeed head of GNA Fayez Al-Sarraj in the new authority.
Bashagha failed to receive the required majority support during the Libyan Political Dialogue Forum (LPDF), which was held recently in Tunisia under the auspices of the United Nations Support Mission in Libya (UNSMIL).
Furthermore, Speaker Aguila Saleh, announced that he had received an official invitation from his Egyptian counterpart, Ali Abdel-Aal, to hold a consultative meeting in Cairo.
Local Libyan news agency, affiliated with the authorities in the east, reported that Abdel-Aal called on Saleh, and whoever wishes among the Libyan MPs to hold a consultative meeting in “your second home, the Egyptian Parliament” in order to agree on a number of principles and standards required for a political solution to the current Libyan crisis.
The Speaker affirmed the support of the Egyptian leadership and people to “our Libyan brothers to overcome their current ordeal and achieve their aspirations for a modern, democratic, civil state.”
In related news, Volcano of Rage operation, launched by GNA forces, accused LNA of seeking the help of “foreign mercenaries.”
The operation published photographs from Houn city, showing a number of Janjaweed mercenaries in the city carrying their weapons.
It indicated that they support the LNA, noting that its reconnaissance brigades documented the arrival of large numbers of Janjaweed and other African mercenaries to al-Jufra region. LNA has repeatedly denied such claims.
Sirte-Jufra Operations Room spokesman, Brigadier General al-Hadi Dara, stressed that the road linking Sirte and Misrata will be opened after the withdrawal of all mercenaries and removal of landmines.