Al-Sarraj: Talks about cease-fire conditioned upon withdrawal of aggressor

The head of the Presidential Council of the Libyan Government of National Accord, Fayez Al-Sarraj, stated that any talks about a ceasefire are conditioned upon the withdrawal of the aggressor force and its return from where it came.

The prime minister declared this during a speech he delivered at the meeting of the cabinet in Tripoli, on Thursday.

“All abroad and local parties agreed that any talks about a ceasefire are conditioned upon the withdrawal of the aggressor force and its return from where it came. Ignoring this condition means that the talk becomes a bit absurd,” Al-Sarraj insisted.

“As for resuming the political process, the situation before 4 April is completely different from the situation after, for there are variables,” he added.

Al-Sarraj clarified: “We did not call for blowing up the political process, as we were one party to it and we are working to sustain it as well as consultation. However, some others hindered this process and caused great damage to society, in addition to material and moral damage.”

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“Our young people are strongly defending their capital, and the project of the civil state,” and “the conditions on the ground are good,” said Al-Sarraj.

On 4 April, Haftar launched a military operation to take control of the capital, Tripoli, sparking international rejection and condemnation.

Until now, the military operation has not made any real progress on the ground and has also suffered setbacks in some areas.

Since 2011, Libya has been caught in the middle of a struggle for legitimacy and authority, which is currently taking place between the Government of National Accord in Tripoli (west) and the retired general Khalifa Haftar, who is leading the army forces in the east.