Libya’s Prime Minister Fajis al-Sarradsch has used his speech before the UN General Assembly for a sharp attack on his main opponent in the civil war. The powerful General Chalifa Haftar he called yesterday (local time) in New York as a „war criminal“. At the same time, he made it clear that he did not want to sit down with Haftar for peace talks.
Haftar was basically ready to negotiate in a statement. „Ultimately, there is no other way than dialogue (…) and a political process,“ said Haftar-controlled Libyan forces. However, there was no room for that as long as „terrorist groups and criminal militias“ ruled over the capital, Tripoli.
Since the overthrow of long-time ruler Muammar al-Gaddafi in 2011, there has been chaos in Libya that countless militias and human smugglers are taking advantage. Sarradsch’s internationally recognized government has never managed to gain significant influence beyond the borders of the capital Tripoli. Haftar, on the other hand, controls large parts of the country in the east and ordered an offensive on Tripoli in April.
