Latest news with #Misrata
Asharq Al-Awsat
25-05-2025
- Politics
- Asharq Al-Awsat
UN Mission Holds Consultations to Solve Issues Blocking Progress Toward Elections in Libya
The United Nations Support Mission in Libya (UNSMIL) on Saturday held consultations with key officials in Libya's Zintan and Misrata to discuss the recommendations of the Advisory Committee to resolve key contentious issues that are blocking progress toward elections. In Misrata, head of UNSMIL, Hanna Tetteh, and her deputy, Stephanie Koury, met with mayor Mahmoud Al Soqatri, municipal council officials, House of Representative and High Council of State members, in addition to civil society representatives, youth and the Military Zone Commander of the Central Zone and member of the Truce Committee, Lieutenant General Mohamed Musa. 'The price paid by Libyans across the country from continued political deadlock has been too high,' Tetteh said. 'The Advisory Committee has now finished, and their recommendations are public. It is now that the real work begins to find a way forward for an inclusive political process,' she added. The meetings in both cities are part of a series of community consultations which will take place across the country as the Mission starts a public consultation process on the Advisory Committee recommendations in Libya. The community engagements will be held online and in towns and cities across the country by the Mission to gather the views of a wide range of people, including community leaders, notables, youth, women, cultural components those with disabilities, military leaders and elected officials, UNSMIL said in a statement. 'Discussions across all meetings focused extensively on the recent clashes in Tripoli and their potential implication for stability in the western region,' Tetteh said during her visits in Misrata and Zintan. She added that participants emphasized the urgent need for political, social and economic inclusivity, and the need to implement robust ceasefire and security arrangements.
Kuwait Times
17-05-2025
- Politics
- Kuwait Times
Gunbattles rock Libya capital after brief lull
UN calls for immediate, unconditional ceasefire in all areas TRIPOLI: Fresh gunbattles have erupted in the Libyan capital between two powerful armed groups, a security official said Wednesday, just a day after authorities declared the fighting over. Clashes flared between the Radaa force and the 444 Brigade in key areas of the city, including the port, the source said. No official casualty figures have been released for the latest fight yet, but the Libyan Red Crescent said it recovered a dead body from a major street in Tripoli. The official described the fighting as "urban warfare", with intermittent clashes in residential areas involving light and medium weapons. In other areas, heavy weapons were being used. Libya has struggled to recover from years of unrest since the NATO-backed 2011 uprising that toppled and killed longtime leader Muammar Ghaddafi. The country remains split between a UN-recognized government in Tripoli, led by Prime Minister Abdulhamid Dbeibah, and a rival administration in the east, controlled by the Haftar family. Fighting extended in southern and western Tripoli as Radaa and "groups supporting it came as reinforcements against the 444 Brigade", the interior ministry source said. On Monday night, heavy arms fire and explosions rocked several Tripoli districts, killing at least six people, according to authorities. Reports said Abdelghani Al-Kikli, leader of the Support and Stability Apparatus which controls the southern district of Abu Salim, had also been killed at a facility controlled by the 444 Brigade. 'Territorial reshuffle' A source told AFP groups were moving into the capital from neighboring Zawiya in support of Radaa. Meanwhile, "more Misrata brigades may continue to join Dbeibah's side", said Libya expert Jalel Harchaoui. He described the latest conflict as "more dangerous" for the capital in recent years, saying it meant a "territorial reshuffle" with more factions "seeking to insinuate themselves into downtown Tripoli". The 444 Brigade controls parts of southern Tripoli and is aligned with Dbeibah, whereas Radaa controls parts in the capital's east and holds several key state facilities. On Tuesday, the Tripoli-based government said the fighting had been brought under control as Dbeibah thanked government forces "for restoring security and asserting the state's authority in the capital". Dbeibah also announced a string of executive orders including dissolving some bodies previously run by Tripoli armed groups other than the 444 Brigade. But a second night of fighting could mean "a more prolonged, destructive, and existential battle with a nationwide dimension" after what he said was Dbeibah's "failure to secure a quick victory". Authorities also announced a ceasefire, but gunshots were still heard in western parts of Tripoli. The United Nations mission in Libya said it was "deeply alarmed by escalating violence in densely populated neighborhoods of Tripoli for the second night in a row". In a statement, it called for "an immediate, unconditional ceasefire in all areas, allowing safe corridors for the evacuation of civilians trapped in intense conflict zones". — AFP
Asharq Al-Awsat
17-05-2025
- Politics
- Asharq Al-Awsat
Türkiye Evacuates 82 Nationals From Libya after Unrest
Türkiye evacuated 82 of its nationals from the Libyan capital Tripoli after several days of fatal clashes between armed groups, foreign ministry sources said late Friday. "Eighty-two citizens who wanted to return to Türkiye were assisted in their departure from Libya and allowed to return home," the source said, referring to "the conflict and insecurity" that has gripped the North African nation in recent days. The move came a day after the Turkish embassy said in a post on Facebook that it was preparing to evacuate its nationals via a Turkish Airlines flight to Istanbul from the Libyan port city of Misrata, some 200 kilometres (125 miles) east of Tripoli. It said it would organise bus transport from the capital, AFP reported. The ministry did not give details about those who returned home and didn't say whether more flights were planned. Violence flared in the Libyan capital late on Monday between loyalist forces and powerful armed groups that the government is trying to dismantle. The UN Support Mission in Libya (UNSMIL) on Friday said "at least eight civilians" were killed in heavy clashes, which took place over the following days, bringing air traffic to an almost total standstill. Although relative calm returned to Tripoli earlier on Friday, the situation remained highly volatile. Türkiye, which backs the UN-recognized government in Tripoli led by Prime Minister Abdulhamid Dbeibah, called on Wednesday for a truce and said it was "closely monitoring" the situation.
Free Malaysia Today
17-05-2025
- Politics
- Free Malaysia Today
Turkey evacuates 82 nationals from Libya after unrest
Conflict and insecurity has gripped Libya after several days of fatal clashes. (AP pic) ISTANBUL : Turkey evacuated 82 of its nationals from the Libyan capital Tripoli after several days of fatal clashes between armed groups, foreign ministry sources said late yesterday. 'Eighty-two citizens who wanted to return to Turkey were assisted in their departure from Libya and allowed to return home,' the source said, referring to 'the conflict and insecurity' that has gripped the North African nation in recent days. The move came a day after the Turkish embassy said in a post on Facebook that it was preparing to evacuate its nationals via a Turkish Airlines flight to Istanbul from the Libyan port city of Misrata, some 200km east of Tripoli. It said it would organise bus transport from the capital. The ministry did not give details about those who returned home and didn't say whether more flights were planned. Violence flared in the Libyan capital late on Monday between loyalist forces and powerful armed groups that the government is trying to dismantle. The UN support mission in Libya (Unsmil) yesterday said 'at least eight civilians' were killed in heavy clashes, which took place over the following days, bringing air traffic to an almost total standstill. Although relative calm returned to Tripoli earlier yesterday, the situation remained highly volatile. Turkey, which backs the UN-recognised government in Tripoli led by prime minister Abdulhamid Dbeibah, called on Wednesday for a truce and said it was 'closely monitoring' the situation. Libya has struggled to recover from years of unrest since the Nato-backed 2011 uprising that toppled and killed long-time leader Muammar Gaddafi, with the country split between Dbeibah's government in the west and a rival authority backed by strongman Khalifa Haftar in the east.
Yahoo
17-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Libyan ministers resign as protesters call for government to step down
Several ministers with Libya's internationally recognised government have resigned in support of the protesters calling for Prime Minister Abdul Hamid Dbeibah to step down. The government late on Friday said a police officer was killed in an 'attempted assault' on the prime minister's office as thousands of Libyans marched into squares and various areas in the capital, Tripoli. 'He was shot by unknown attackers and succumbed to his injuries,' a statement said, adding that members of a group who mixed with the protesters tried to set the office on fire using Molotov cocktails. Economy and Trade Minister Mohamed al-Hawij, Local Government Minister Badr Eddin al-Tumi and Minister of Housing Abu Bakr al-Ghawi resigned, according to a video released by two of those ministers as well as local media reports. The government had earlier on Friday denied reports of the ministers' resignations. Meanwhile, in the city of Misrata, protesters gathered in support of Dbeibah and his government. The protests follow a wave of violence in Tripoli in the past week that led to the deaths of at least eight civilians. The deadly clashes started after powerful militia leader Abdelghani al-Kikli, also known as Gheniwa, was killed in an ambush at a military base. Dbeibah attempted to consolidate power and assert control after the killing, with more clashes following later in the week. Before the demonstrations, the United Nations Support Mission in Libya (UNSMIL) had emphasised 'citizens' right to peaceful protest' and warned against 'any escalation of violence'. Reporting from Tripoli, Al Jazeera's Malik Traina said Libyans want to see a major change as people are 'extremely frustrated' with the security situation. 'Libyans are calling for elections and want to be able to voice their opinion and put those that they want in power,' he said. Egypt's Ministry of Foreign Affairs said in a statement on Saturday that Cairo was closely monitoring developments in Libya, and urged all parties to exercise 'maximum restraint'. It also advised Egyptian citizens in Libya to remain cautious and stay in their homes until the situation is clarified. Libya has been in turmoil since a NATO-backed uprising in 2011, which ended up dividing the country between two rival administrations. Dbeibah's Government of National Unity (GNU) has maintained control over western Libya since 2021, while an administration backed by renegade military commander Khalifa Haftar leads in the east. Libya was scheduled to hold national elections at the end of 2021, which were postponed indefinitely due to disputes over candidate eligibility, constitutional rules, and concerns over security as the rival governments failed to agree on a framework.
