Abdel Hamid Dbeibeh, prime minister of Libya’s recognized government, announced what he called “the political suicide of the coup project.”
Dbeibe’s comments follow clashes in the capital, Tripoli, between government of national unity troops and paramilitaries linked to the fictitious Tobruk parliament, which has elected Fathi Bashaga as its new prime minister.
A few hours earlier, Bashaga had arrived in the city to take office.
Dbeibe refused to hand over power, except for a government elected under the guidelines of the Libyan Political Dialogue Forum, affirming: “Without elections, there is no future.”
The United Nations (UN) is facilitating negotiations in Cairo to reach consensus on a constitutional basis for holding “as soon as possible” legislative and executive elections in the North African nation.
Dbeibeh agreed to open a security corridor for Bashagi to leave the capital “for the simple reason that one drop of Libyan blood is more important than any greed or authority.”
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“The government continues to fulfill its responsibilities as the only guarantee for future elections in Libya,” the prime minister repeated. “The government will remain that way until the election.”
At the time, Dbeibeh assured foreign diplomats that the security situation in Tripoli was “stable” and that work could continue as usual.
On Tuesday evening (17), Bashaga called a press conference in the eastern city of Sirte, where he said he had left the capital to prevent casualties.
“We don’t move forces or use weapons; we were going to arrive alone without an escort,” Bashaga said. “We don’t want bloodshed; it is impossible for me to take power through massacre. We will keep on fighting until we reach our goal; however peacefully.
Bashaga claimed to have driven into Tripoli in two civilian vehicles. The stalemate has persisted since March, when the congress in Tobruk chose him to remove Dbeibeh.
“I have the right, as prime minister, elected by the legislature, to go to the capital,” he repeated. “The government will begin its work tomorrow, headquartered in Sirte, and we will go to Tripoli if we are sure that our arrival will not shed a single drop of blood.”
On Twitter, Bashaga accused the government of national unity of “using force” to prevent a transfer of power. “Although we entered the capital without the use of violence or force of arms, welcomed by the people of Tripoli, we were surprised by the dangerous military escalation of groups associated with the government, whose mandate has expired.”
The Deputy Prime Minister added: “Threatening the security of civilians is a crime under the law, and we cannot contribute to the infringement of the security of the capital and its inhabitants.”
This was reported to the agency by a source in the 444th brigade of the Libyan army. Anadolu that their commander accompanied Bashaga, leading him out of the city. “The position of the brigade regarding the outbreak of conflict is clear: we reject any bloodshed or instability in the country.”
Libya is contested by two separate governments and there are fears of a return to civil war.
The UN hopes that a general election will help end the conflict that has plagued the country since 2011, when long-lived dictator Muammar Gaddafi was ousted by popular uprising and outside interference.
