Libyan council calls for battle against ‘war criminal’ Haftar

The Misrata municipal council has called for the mobilisation of troops against Field Marshall Khalifa Haftar in Libya.

Following the recent escalation in violence in the south of the country, the Libyan council referred to Haftar as a “war criminal” in a statement released on Wednesday, and denounced airstrikes lead by his forces on the Al-Jufra Air Base in the Libyan city of Misrata.

“We hold the war criminal Haftar responsible for undermining the security and stability of the homeland, and the cultivation of sedition and terror among its citizens,” the council wrote in the statement.

“We urge all forces and fighters to be on high alert and we call for the mobilisation of forces to fight the war criminal General Khalifa Haftar and his forces.”

The announcement was given its seal of approval by three stamps attributed to the Misrata municipal council, the Misrata military council and the president of the Shura Council. This week, forces loyal to Haftar bombed a military transport aircraft that was carrying former mayor of Misrata, Yousif Ben Yousif, and several high-ranking Misrata council members based at the Al-Jufra Air Base. The plane was also carrying weapons.

One person died and another military officer, Colonel Ibrahim Bayt Al-Malwas, was injured in the attack.

The Head of the United Nations Support Mission in Libya (UNSMIL), Martin Kobler, warned against the escalation of violence which could lead to fresh conflict in central Libya.

“I urge all parties to act with restraint and to resolve issues through peaceful dialogue,” Kobler said.