Libya's renegade army leader wants presidential council

TRIPOLI

Renegade Libyan army commander Khalifa Haftar, who unilaterally mobilized troops in the eastern Benghazi city, called for a civilian presidential council to rule the country until the election of a new parliament in June.

"The [elected] General National Conference has failed to fulfill its duties due to its persistent negligence towards the people's demands," Haftar said in a televised statement Wednesday night.

"The civilian council would transfer power to a new parliament as the supreme military council will continue to back the transitional period to protect Libya and its resources," he added.

Fears have mounted recently that Libya is slipping towards chaos after renegade army general Haftar took up arms against militia groups serving as part of Libya's regular army.

Haftar says the campaign, dubbed "Operation Dignity," is aimed at "purging" Libya of "extremists." Dozens have been killed since Haftar's offensive, in which at least one military plane was used, began on Friday.

The Libyan government, for its part, has described Haftar's operation as a "coup" against "legitimacy."

On Sunday, militants said to be loyal to Haftar attacked parliament headquarters in capital Tripoli and kidnapped several lawmakers.

Haftar's operation in restive Benghazi spurred considerable division within the Libyan army leaders, who were split between supporting his offensive or backing the elected interim government.

Libya's election commission has set June 25 as the date for holding the country's parliamentary elections.

Top Libya MP orders legal action against pro-Haftar troops

Libyan Parliament Speaker Nouri Abusahmain on Thursday ordered Defense Minister Abdullah al-Thinni and Chief-of-Staff Abdel-Salam al-Obeidi to take legal action against army troops who show support for renegade army commander Khalifa Haftar, whose forces are currently engaged in deadly fighting with militiamen.

Abusahmain issued the orders in his capacity as supreme commander of Libya's armed forces. Yet the decrees did not specify what legal action would be taken against military personnel found to be supportive of Haftar's offensive.

"What these troops and officers have done could be considered a coup against legitimacy and against the February 17 revolution [which ended strongman Muammar Gaddafi's rule in 2011]," Abusahmain said.

Fears have mounted recently that Libya is slipping towards civil war after forces loyal to Haftar took up arms against militia groups serving as part of Libya's regular army.

Haftar says the campaign, dubbed "Operation Dignity," is aimed at "purging" Libya of "extremists."

Dozens have been killed since Haftar's offensive – in which at least one military plane was used – began on Friday.

 The Libyan government, for its part, has described Haftar's operation as a "coup" against "legitimacy."

On Sunday, militants said to be loyal to Haftar attacked parliament headquarters in capital Tripoli.

Haftar's operation in restive Benghazi has caused some wrangling between army leaders, who have been split between backing Haftar's offensive and supporting Libya's elected interim government.

www.aa.com.tr/en