UN calls for an immediate cessation of hostilities in Libya

Skhirat – The personal representative of the UN Secretary General for Libya, Bernardino Leon, strongly condemned Saturday the further violence in Tripoli, calling for an immediate cessation of hostilities in Libya.

In a statement, the United Nations Support Mission in Libya (UNSMIL), released Saturday night, Mr. Leon felt that “there could be no justification for the ongoing fighting in Tripoli or in the ongoing armed violence in different parts of the country, when the parties in conflict in Libya will meet in Morocco to try to find a solution to the crisis in this country. ”

He urged all parties to spare the fighting immediately and take all necessary measures to create a more conducive environment for negotiations.

Mr. Leon called on the parties to spare the civilian population and property during the fighting and to respect international law and human rights, noting that “all civilians abducted should be released immediately and the wounded must be cared for. ”

According MANUL, “Preliminary information indicates that three civilians were killed, including a girl, since the outbreak of fighting (Friday) Fachloum, a district of Tripoli,” noting that “there are also about reports of ‘abduction of civilians and burned houses in the fighting. ”

The fourth round of the inter-Libyan political dialogue continued Saturday at noon in Skhirate to try to find a solution to the crisis in this country.

These consultations, held under the auspices of the Personal Representative of the UN Secretary General, Bernardino Leon, meet representatives of the National General Council (parliament of Tripoli) and the Parliament of Toubrouk recognized by the international community.

Both parties had presented Thursday to the UN responsible comments on the “political transition draft in Libya,” including several key issues related to the formation of the national unity and security government.

The spokesman of the United Nations Support Mission in Libya, Samir Ghattas told MAP that the UN has been trying since Friday “to bridge the gap” between the two parties to find a quick solution to the military and political crisis in the country where fighting has killed 21 people Friday in Tajoraa, east of Tripoli.

This fourth round of inter-Libyan dialogue, which started Wednesday examines several “ideas” presented by the Special Representative of the UN to the two main parties to the conflict with a view to accelerate negotiations on the formation of a national unity government, a presidential council, a parliament, a High Council of State and a body to draft a constitution.

In case of agreement on these points, the United Nations Support Mission in Libya has addressed in a second phase of the Higher Council of making security and the Council of municipalities.