Reports: Libya’s Haftar suffered stroke

Field Marshal Khalifa Haftar, leader of the self-styled Libyan National Army, has suffered a stroke and is in Jordan for treatment, local TV stations have reported.

Libya’s Al-Ahrar TV said Haftar had been sent to Jordan for treatment ahead of plans for him to travel to Europe for medical care, however Alnabaa TV reported that Haftar was already in a coma in a hospital in France.

Haftar’s spokesperson Ahmed Al-Mismari has however denied the reports. Alnabaa TV reported Al-Mismari saying that the military leader is in a good condition and had not suffered a stroke or medical ailment.

Born in 1943 in the eastern town of Ajadbiya, Haftar was one of the group of officers led by former Libyan dictator Colonel Muammar Gaddafi which seized power from King Idris in 1969.

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Since Gaddafi’s ouster, Haftar has been vying for power in the country. His Libyan National Army stands in opposition to the government in Libya’s western city of Tripoli, the Government of National Accord, which is officially recognised and backed by the United Nations.

The military leader has the backing of Egypt, the UAE, Saudi Arabia and Israel.

The UN and human rights groups have repeatedly accused forces loyal to Haftar of carrying out mass executions in Libya. An UN report has also detailed how Libyan military strongman Khalifa Haftar has been providing military support for Sudanese rebel groups since his armed forces took control of Al-Jufra and Brak Al-Shati in Libya.