Tripoli's only functioning airport reopens after overnight air strikes
Libyan fighters loyal to the Government of National Accord fire their guns during clashes with forces loyal to strongman Khalifa Haftar south of the capital Tripoli's suburb of Ain Zara, on April 20, 2019. Libya has reopened Tripoli's only functioning airport, according to a posting on the airport authorities' Facebook page on Sunday.
The shelling was louder and more frequent on Saturday than in previous days, residents said. Both sides claimed progress in southern Tripoli, but no more details were immediately available.Forces loyal to Libya's unity government said on Saturday they have launched a counter-attack against strongman Khalifa Haftar's fighters just south of Tripoli.
Some protesters also criticised US President Donald Trump's call to the commander, denouncing Haftar and those who support him. "We, the Libyan people are against Trump, and against Haftar. We want civilian rule, freedom, science and culture. We want to live as other people do," Nour Mohamed, another protester.
In their phone call, "the two discussed a shared vision for Libya's transition to a stable, democratic political system."The UN said on Friday it had evacuated 163 refugees from war-ravaged Libya to neighbouring Niger, but more than 3,000 others were still trapped in detention centres affected by clashes.
Interior minister Fathi Bach Agha ordered the "suspension of all relations between the ministry and the French side... due to the position of the French government in support of the criminal Haftar," it said in a statement. "After the very first successes of the Libyan National Army two weeks ago, we are witnessing a military deadlock," he said.The UN Security Council has been deeply split on how to address the crisis in Libya after fresh negotiations on a draft resolution demanding a ceasefire in Tripoli failed to yield an agreement.
A slightly watered-down version was put forward by Britain on Wednesday, but the three African countries on the council – Equatorial Guinea, Ivory Coast, South Africa – blocked it. Some UN diplomats have suggested the United States might be trying to buy time as President Trump’s administration works out how to deal with the latest developments in Libya.
“This battle comes within the framework of a comprehensive war on terrorism. In 2014, the decision was made to purge the country of terrorist organisations, gangs and armed groups. The Government of National Accord is now a completely paralysed government whose decisions are now invalid,” said Mesmari.
More than 1,000 people gathered in central Tripoli to demand Haftar, a former general in Colonel Gaddafi's army who later joined the revolt against him, stop the advance on the coastal city of about 1.2 million people. UN spokesman Stephane Dujarric said the fighting in the past 24 hours was "the heaviest since the outbreak of hostilities."The European Union urged the LNA forces of General Haftar to stop their offensive on the Libyan capital Tripoli.
The camp is in the Ain Zara area, which had been witnessing clashes between Haftar’s forces and government forces. In a brief statement, the Haftar-led forces said they have set control over the Yarmuk camp, adding they are advancing towards Tripoli’s centre.NATO is "deeply concerned" by the escalating violence in Libya, alliance chief Jens Stoltenberg said, calling on all sides to stop fighting as the deadly power struggle rages."The current military operation and advance on Tripoli are increasing the suffering of the Libyan people and putting civilian lives at risk.
"We cannot ask people to take part in the conference during gunfire and air strikes," UN envoy Ghassan Salame said.Turkish foreign minister said the recent escalation in Libya should be tackled through dialogue instead of military aggression. Secretary-General Guterres "urges the immediate halt of all military operations in order to de-escalate the situation and prevent an all-out conflict," said a UN statement late on Monday.
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