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Haftar forces say ready to secure Libya elections

October 15, 2018 at 11:10 am

Libyan General Khalifa Haftar [Twitter]

Forces loyal to Libyan strongman General Khalifa Haftar said yesterday that they are prepared to secure any electoral process in the country by protecting polling stations in their areas of control.

The Information Office of the General Command of the Libyan Armed Forces, which are affiliated with Haftar, said in a statement posted on Facebook that the forces have national and constitutional responsibility to protect the democratic process and peaceful transfer of power in Libya.

Earlier in September, the head of the Presidential Council of the Libyan Government of National Accord, Fayez Al-Sarraj, said: “The council will resort to alternatives to hold the elections and allowing the people to choose their representatives and governors, and end this phase with all its political and legislative institutions.”

Al- Sarraj added during a ministerial meeting on Libya held in New York last month that “the democratic process will not continue to be a hostage of the House of Representatives” in reference to the Tobruk-based parliament led by Prime Minister Abdullah Al-Thinni.

On 21 September 2017, the UN envoy to Libya, Ghassan Salameh, proposed a work plan which included holding elections by the end of 2018. However he later said elections may not be held by the end of the year.

Read: Ex-Libya official sues Haftar in US