Libya Conflict: GNA Interior Minister urges intl. community to stop Tripoli assault

World
Europe

02:30

As the fighting intensifies in Libya, the Interior minister of the country's UN-backed Government of National Accord has called on the international community to put pressure on Khalifa Haftar's forces to end their attacks on the capital, Tripoli. He said the number of deaths, casualties and refugees would only increase the longer the fighting went on. CGTN's Adnen Chaouachi has more.

Libyan Interior Minister Fathi Bach Agha held a press conference in Tunis. He described the security situation as alarming and critical in Libya with the advance of the forces of Khalifa Haftar, the leader of a military assault.

FATHI BACH AGHA LIBYAN INTERIOR MINISTER "Haftar and his forces have bombed us. Missiles are still targeting Tripoli even at night. We condemn the silence of the international community. We will defend the capital and the rights of Libyans."

Bach Agha also warned against the spread of the conflict to North Africa and the Maghreb region.

FATHI BACH AGHA LIBYAN INTERIOR MINISTER "The crisis is not limited to Libya. North Africa and the Arab Maghreb are under threat. Haftar's project is not just limited to controlling Libya. Mr. Haftar is bloodthirsty. He wants to impose dictatorship onto Libyans and to control the whole region."

According to the Libyan official and the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, over 34,000 have been displaced in the latest fighting in Tripoli and the surrounding area. Thousands of Libyan families have fled to Tunisia.

KAMAL BEN YOUNES EXPERT IN LIBYAN AFFAIRS "If Libyan stakeholders do not reach an agreement, the humanitarian situation will deteriorate and the number of victims will increase. The international community must intervene and convince all armed groups to sit at the negotiation table."

Libyan Interior Minister praised the role played by Tunisia and Algeria in ending his country's conflict. Bach Agha said Tunis and Algiers have remained neutral and rejected any military action in Libya.

ADNEN CHAOUACHI TUNIS, TUNISIA "Tunisian Foreign Minister Khemais Jhinaoui emphasized the need to immediately end the armed clashes in Libya and to allow the resumption of the political process under the umbrella of the UN. AC. CGTN. T."