UN-recognized Libya govt seeks body to probe crimes

TRIPOLİ, Libya

The UN-recognized Libyan Government of National Accord (GNA) on Wednesday asked the UN Security Council to send an international commission to investigate Khalifa Haftar's crimes.

The commission would not establish a dialog or negotiate before defeating Haftar’s forces, GNA spokesman Muhenned Yunus said in a statement.

"Fayez al-Sarraj, -- chairman of the Presidential Council and prime minister of the UN-recognized Government of National Accord -- asked UN Security Council to send Libya a commission to investigate and prove crimes against civilians from military forces led-by Khalifa Haftar,” he said. “Sarraj has not asked any international observer from the UN."

Haftar launched a campaign to capture Tripoli last month, where the GNA is headquartered.

At least 254 people have been killed and hundreds injured in recent clashes on the outskirts of Tripoli, the World Health Organization (WHO) said Saturday.

Libya has remained beset by turmoil since long-serving leader Muammar Gaddafi was ousted and killed in a bloody NATO-backed uprising in 2011.

Since then, the country has seen the emergence of two rival seats of power: one in eastern Libya, to which Haftar is affiliated, and another in Tripoli, which enjoys UN recognition.

* Writing by Burak Bir