Arab League calls for permanent ceasefire in Libya

Source
Xinhuanet
Editor
Li Wei
Time
2020-04-05 17:40:19

CAIRO, April 4 (Xinhua) -- The League of Arab States renewed on Saturday calls for a permanent cessation of military operations in Libya, especially around the capital Tripoli.

In a statement, the Arab League Secretary-General Ahmed Aboul-Gheit expressed "deep regret" that the military battles between the UN-backed government and the eastern-based army of Libya have been ongoing for one year in the western regions of the country.

The conflict has undermined peace efforts sponsored by the United Nations Support Mission in Libya, and resulted in the death of hundreds of innocent civilians, and the displacement of hundreds of thousands of residents, Aboul-Gheit said.

"Silencing the guns throughout the Libyan territories is an essential condition for building the lost trust between the two parties of the conflict," he said.

He condemned all forms of foreign military interventions in Libya, the multiple violations of the arms embargo imposed on the country, as well as bringing "terrorists" to the battlefields, in violation of the relevant Security Council resolutions and the obligations undertaken by the parties that participated in the Berlin Summit.

The eastern-based army has been leading a military campaign since April 2019 in and around the capital Tripoli, attempting to take over the city and topple the UN-backed government.

The fighting killed and injured thousands of people and forced more than 150,000 civilians to flee their homes.

The rivals have agreed to cease fire on January 12. However, both parties exchanged accusations of breaching the truce.

 

Related News

back