ZayedHadiah, member of the Libyan House of Representatives – Egypt Today
CAIRO – 28 April 2019: Zayed Hadiah, member of the Libyan House of Representatives, has said the operation being carried by the National Army is aimed at eradicating armed militias and gangs that looted the wealth and economy of the Libyan people.
He stressed during an interview with Egypt Today that the suffering in Tripoli prompted citizens to demonstrate in the streets of the capital.
Hadiah added that the Ministry of Interior refuses to grant citizens licenses to demonstrate against armed militias, referring to the use of firearms by such militias to stop the demonstrations of the people of Tripoli.
He further affirmed that the Libyan Parliament has demanded the army to intervene to protect the borders and end the existence of terrorists and armed militias.
As for dialogue between the Parliament and the state council, Hadiah said it reached a dead end amid international attempts to communicate with the national army to present its visions and demands.
“Meetings between KhalifaHaftar and Fayez Mustafa al-Sarraj the Chairman of the Presidential Council of Libya and prime minister of the Government of National Accord (GNA) resulted in an agreement to form a government of national unity, however, Sarraj did not abide by the agreement due to pressures,” Hadiah said.
“Sarraj is seeking longer presence in the Libyan political scene by prolonging the crisis and forging alliances with the state council to prevent the formation of a presidential council.”
Haftar's forces have announced they were gearing up for an offensive in the west of the country to purge it of "terrorists and mercenaries", having seized key areas of the country's south since the start of the year.
Dozens of militias have fought for control of the North African country since a NATO-backed uprising toppled and killed longtime dictator Muammar Gaddafi in 2011.
al-Sarraj earlier condemned Haftar's "escalation" and said he had ordered loyalist forces to prepare to "face all threats".
His interior ministry announced a "state of maximum alert" and powerful armed groups from Libya's western city of Misrata said they were ready to halt Haftar's advance.
Sarraj affirmed that armed militias including the Muslim Brotherhood, the Libyan Islamic Fighting Group and Ansar al-Sharia have united against the national army.
He also said the Libyan army does not bomb civilians in Tripoli, but the armed militias do so in order to pressure the international community to charge for a cease of fire under the pretext of protecting civilians.
He pointed out that the national army was seeking to enter Tripoli peacefully to dry the sources of financing armed militias and the liberation of state institutions, criticizing the way the central bank is being managed, which has been allocating large funds of money to the militias.
Additional reporting by Ahmed Gomaa
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