By Safa Alharathy
The head of the Council of Elders and Dignitaries of Tarhuna Saleh Alfandi confirmed that ceasefire agreement was reached between the parties fighting in the southern suburbs of the capital, after hours of clashes with heavy and medium weapons.
“A ceasefire agreement has been reached between the conflict parties fighting in Tripoli and the handover of security checkpoints to the Tripoli Security Directorate, as well as the return of all troops to their former positions,” the Libyan news channel Libya Al-Ahrar quoted Alfandi as saying.
For his part, a senior commander of the Tripoli Revolutionaries Brigade, Jalal al-Wershifani, said that the agreement, which came at the initiative of the dignitaries of Zawiya city, provides for the complete withdrawal of heavy weapons from areas of clashes and the return of the 7th Brigade to the district of Qaser Bin Ghashir.
Jalal revealed that the agreement also provides for the handover of clashes areas to the security directorates of Tripoli and Qaser Bin Ghashir, in addition to handing over the camps to the Ministry of Defence.
He also added that the agreement came into force since Monday, noting that most forces have begun withdrawing from the areas of clashes in order for the security directorates to take control.
The southeastern suburbs of Tripoli have witnessed since Sunday a security tension, which further escalated to violent clashes from the early hours of Monday between forces affiliated to the Presidential Council.
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Libyan capital’s fragile security tested as bloody clashes rage on
By Abdulkader Assad
The UN Support Mission in Libya (UNSMIL) has condemned the escalation of violence in Tripoli for the third day in a row and called in a statement for an immediate ceasefire on all fronts.
“The Special Representative of the Secretary-General (SRSG) in Libya, Dr. Ghassan Salame, has reached out to the concerned Libyan parties to immediately cease all hostilities, resume ceasefire talks and find longer term solutions to ensure the safety and security of the capital, its institutions and its residents.” UNSMIL’s statement explains.
According to the UNSMIL, Salame also was in contact with UN Security Council members, as well as regional and international actors with influence on Libyan parties to push for calm, call for the end the military mobilization and come to the negotiating table.
An hours-long ceasefire put to calm the violence clashes on Tuesday as seventh brigade infantry and Tripoli brigades reached Okayed a truce.
Eyewitnesses said the two warring sides have returned to fighting and started mobilizing fighters and vehicles in areas in southern Tripoli.
Of additional impact was the appearance of a leader of Fajr Libya (Libya Dawn) Operation Salah Badi on Tuesday saying he had joined the clashes commanding a force headed to Tripoli “to end humiliation of Tripoli’s residents.”
“Libya has become a foreign agenda war scene driven by traitors and agents of those countries and the Libyan youths. We will take revenge for Tripoli mothers who have been humiliated at the doors of banks due to the corrupted people.” Badi said in a video last night.
With the joining of Badi’s Al-Sumood brigade, they seized Naqliya camp and Airport Road before they had withdrawn and Brigade 301 of the Presidential Council seized it.
It is not clear who is in control of those locations now.
Meanwhile, the Air Force of the Presidential Council’s government allegedly carried an air attack on locations and depots for the seventh brigade in Tarhouna, whose residents were angry enough to take to the streets deploring the airstrike and accusing Al-Sirraj and his government of treason.
The seventh brigade was also defeated in Yarmouk camp in Tripoli and reports said the brigade pulled out away from Qaser Bengashir district southward as Tripoli Revolutionaries Brigade advanced in that area, before seventh brigade made a comeback and regain control on all these locations.
Currently, the capital’s southern districts are still the battlefield for hit-and-run clashes with eyes remaining wide open for what would happen on both the field and official levels to end such hindrance to whatever hopes Libyans have for an upcoming election.
Pro-Presidential Council Libyan parliament members call for reshuffling it
80 pro-Libyan Political Agreement (LPA) Tobruk parliament’s members have spoken their breakup with the Presidential Council (PC) today.
In a statement on Wednesday, the MPs called for reshuffling the executive authority so the PC becomes of one president and two deputies, besides a prime minister that should form a national unity government that gets endorsed by Tobruk House of Representatives.
“UNSMIL should support this step by inviting the dialogue committees of HoR and High Council of State (HCS) to talks.” The statement reads.
The statement reiterated support for political solutions in Libya, rejecting violence and chaos as well as using a military medium to gain power.
“An executive authority that is united and represents all Libyans is needed so it paves the way for elections and the end of the transitional phase.” The statement adds.
Many have been calling for dialogue between the HoR and HCS to reshape the PC and form a unity government, accusing the PC of failing to deliver and of being controlled by militias that are in fact the ones calling the shots, according to the statement.
Heavy clashes are still raging on in Tripoli amid mobilization of fighters and military might as the PC tried to contain the conflict.
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