Eastern Libyan commander warns of security deterioration as UN-sponsored deal expires
Xinhua,December 17, 2017 Adjust font size:
TRIPOLI, Dec. 17 (Xinhua) -- As the UN-sponsored political agreement signed by Libyan political factions in 2015 expires Sunday, the commander of Libya's eastern-based army Khalifa Haftar warned that Libya is entering "a dangerous stage."
"As of December 17, 2017, the so-called political agreement expires. Therefore, all bodies resulted from this agreement automatically lost their legitimacy, which is questioned since day one," Haftar said in a televised speech on Sunday.
The commander said Libya is now entering "a dangerous stage that could cause sharp deterioration in all local affairs without exception."
"This deterioration may extend to regional and international parties and opens the doors to all possibilities," Haftar said.
He criticized the international community for failing to take any serious measures to spare Libya from "this dangerous slide towards the unknown."
Haftar noted that all UN-sponsored dialogues held by Libyan political factions so far are "useless" as they failed to provide any guarantees "leading to a comprehensive and just solution."
He also vowed that he is committed to protecting and defending Libyans and the country's institutions "to the last soldier in our ranks."
Libyan political parties on December 17, 2015 signed a UN-sponsored peace agreement that aims at ending the political division in the country. Under the deal, the Government of National Accord was appointed, but the country has remained in a political crisis amid insecurity and chaos.
Ghassan Salame, head of the UN Support Mission in Libya, on Sunday urged Libyan political parties to "refrain from any actions that could undermine the political process."
Salame proposed an action plan for Libya in September that includes amendment of the current UN-sponsored political agreement, holding a UN-sponsored national conference for all Libya's political factions, adopting a constitution, and finally electing the president and parliament. Enditem