06.04.2019, Tripoli.
The rebellious General Haftar has declined proposed negotiations with the Head of the Libyan Government Fayez al-Sarraj, Al Jazeera reports on April 6.
“Forces loyal to the Commander of the Libyan National Army are marching on Tripoli. The assault raises fears of a full-blown war in the country,” states the Arab channel.
The aim of Haftar’s offensive is to capture the government districts in the Libyan capital.
Earlier, UN General Secretary Antonio Guterres, who is in Tripoli together with a peacekeeping mission, proposed that the authorities and the rebel leader negotiate in Geneva. However, Haftar rejected the negotiations, and he continued his offensive against the Libyan capital.
“I leave Libya with a heavy heart and deeply concerned. I still hope it is possible to avoid a bloody confrontation in and around Tripoli,” wrote Guterres in Twitter after Haftar’s refusal to take part in the negotiations.
General Haftar, the former Head of the Libyan National Army, has already captured several oil-rich regions and a few port cities in the country. Certain Arab countries, including Saudi Arabia and Egypt, are supporting the General.
Haftar was among the leaders of the insurrection against Muammar Gaddafi in 2010 in Libya. The general returned to the country from his exile in the US at that time.
Experts believe that Haftar’s ultimate goal is to take the Libyan capital, as it is impossible to exercise full control under the country without it. Since 2014, Haftar has been gradually capturing oil-rich Libyan regions under the guise of combating terrorist groups. In 2017, he seized Benghazi. In 2018 the general took control of Derna. In January 2019, his forces launched an offensive in the oil-rich region of Fezzan. He then sent his army against Tripoli.
The military success of the 75 year-old general threatens the Libyan Government, which the West recognizes. With UN mediation, it was proposed to Haftar to begin negotiations on a political settlement to the crisis. The holding emergency elections and a national conference were to be discussed during these negotiations. Having agreed to these negotiations in word, Haftar continued his offensive against the Libyan capital. According to experts, his goal is to seize complete power over the country, which is divided by civil war.
Source: Rossa Primavera News Agency
