Support grows for Libya�s unity govt

AFP, TRIPOLI: Libya’s UN-backed unity government has won increasing pledges of loyalty as it gradually exerts its authority in the face of strong opposition from rival political forces in the conflict-wracked country.
Libya’s warring sides are under intense international pressure to cede power to prime minister-designate Fayez al-Sarraj, whose arrival in the capital on Wednesday angered a rival Tripoli-based government.
But there are signs that allegiances are starting to shift in favour of Sarraj, a businessman from Tripoli who was a member of a committee that paved the way to national dialogue in Libya.
Ten western cities called on all Libyans Thursday to back the Government of National Accord (GNA) in a major blow to the unrecognised Tripoli authority which is refusing to give up power.
The announcement came in a statement on the official Facebook page of the Sabratha municipality near the border with Tunisia.
“The situation of the country is sad. Life is very expensive, there is no cash, and so we saw that it’s time to support this government in order to start solving all of these issues,” said Sabratha mayor Hussein al-Dawadi.
Oil-rich Libya was plunged into turmoil after the 2011 ouster and killing of longtime dictator Moamer Kadhafi.
Two rival governments have been vying for control since mid-2014 when the Libya Dawn militia alliance overran Tripoli, forcing the internationally recognised parliament to flee to the east.
The Tripoli government demanded that Sarraj leave or surrender following his arrival by sea this week with a naval escort, after the airspace was closed to prevent him flying into the capital.
But the UN-backed leader remains in Tripoli where he is slowly building a power base.
On Thursday he met with the head of Libya’s Tripoli-based central bank and discussed measures to safeguard banks and tackle the country’s “cash flow problem,”, according to Sarraj’s office.

 

Support grows for Libya�s unity govt

AFP, TRIPOLI: Libyas UN-backed unity government has won increasing pledges of loyalty as it gradually exerts its authority in the face of strong opposition from rival political forces in the conflict-wracked country. Libyas warring sides are under intense international pressure to cede power to prime minister-designate Fayez al-Sarraj, whose arrival in the capital on Wednesday angered a rival Tripoli-based government. But there are signs that allegiances are starting to shift in favour of Sarraj, a businessman from Tripoli who was a member of a committee that paved the way to national dialogue in Libya. Ten western cities called on all Libyans Thursday to back the Government of National Accord (GNA) in a major blow to the unrecognised Tripoli authority which is refusing to give up power. The announcement came in a statement on the official Facebook page of the Sabratha municipality near the border with Tunisia. The situation of the country is sad. Life is very expensive, there is no cash, and so we saw that its time to support this government in order to start solving all of these issues, said Sabratha mayor Hussein al-Dawadi. Oil-rich Libya was plunged into turmoil after the 2011 ouster and killing of longtime dictator Moamer Kadhafi. Two rival governments have been vying for control since mid-2014 when the Libya Dawn militia alliance overran Tripoli, forcing the internationally recognised parliament to flee to the east. The Tripoli government demanded that Sarraj leave or surrender following his arrival by sea this week with a naval escort, after the airspace was closed to prevent him flying into the capital. But the UN-backed leader remains in Tripoli where he is slowly building a power base. On Thursday he met with the head of Libyas Tripoli-based central bank and discussed measures to safeguard banks and tackle the countrys cash flow problem,, according to Sarrajs office.