Haftar needs 'guarantees' to pull out from Tripoli: UN

PARIS

The UN envoy to Libya stated on Monday that Khalifa Haftar, leader of the eastern Libyan forces, requires "guarantees" in order to retreat from the capital Tripoli.

"A few weeks ago, the situation became more realistic, and the issue is not only geographical. Haftar requires guarantees for a possible retreat from Tripoli," said Ghassan Salame, UN envoy to Libya.

Haftar will need "appointments in significant positions in the state," he said.

"In return, some parties are willing to negotiate with Haftar with the condition of the withdrawal of his forces," he added.

However, according to Salame, "some other parties don't want to negotiate with him after losing the legitimacy to be a stakeholder in Libya."

In April, forces loyal to Haftar launched a campaign to capture Tripoli from forces aligned with the UN-recognized Government of National Accord (GNA).

Clashes between the two sides since then have left more than 1,000 people dead and about 5,500 wounded, according to the World Health Organization (WHO).

Libya has remained beset by turmoil since 2011, when long-time ruler Muammar Gaddafi was ousted and killed in a bloody NATO-backed uprising after four decades in power.

The oil-rich country has since seen the emergence of two rival seats of power: one in eastern Libya, with which Haftar is affiliated, and the Tripoli-based GNA, which enjoys UN recognition.

* Bassel Barakat contributed to this report from Ankara