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Thousands of protesters took to the streets of the Libyan capital, Tripoli, after US President Donald Trump congratulated Libyan Khalifa Haftar on the military badault launched by the rebel general to seize him from the capital.
According to a statement to the White House, Trump and Haftar spoke by phone Monday to "discuss ongoing efforts in the fight against terrorism to achieve peace and stability in Libya."
On April 4, Haftar and his forces launched an offensive against the internationally recognized government of the Tripoli-based country.
In his appeal, Trump "recognized the important role of Marshal Haftar in the fight against terrorism and the securing of Libya's oil resources.The two men discussed a common vision of Libya's transition to Libya. democratic and stable political system ".
The reason why the White House waited several days before announcing the phone call was unclear.
Trump's praise for Haftar was seen in Tripoli as a reversal of US policy in Libya. Earlier this month, Secretary of State Mike Pompeo called for an immediate halt to the Haftar offensive.
Mahmoud Abdelwahed (Al Jazeera), of Tripoli, said the news of the conversation had angered the capital in the capital, as residents perceived the call as a demonstration of Trump 's support for the city. Haftar's offensive.
"People are very angry, thousands of people have come to the streets and main squares, especially in Tripoli, and call on the international community to end the military aggression of the Haftar forces," he said. -he declares.
At least 2,000 people took part in the Friday demonstration on Martyrs' Square in Tripoli to protest against the Libyan National Army (LNA) Haftar thrust in Tripoli.
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| Libyan protesters wear a portrait of French President Emmanuel Macron during a demonstration against Haftar in Tripoli [Mahmud Turkia/AFP] |
Abdelrizaq Musheirib, a protester criticized Trump's appeal to the commander, telling the Reuters news agency: "The call makes no sense, but we will respond."
The LNA launched the military campaign against Tripoli on April 4, claiming that it wanted to "clean" the country's western region of the "remaining terrorist groups".
According to badysts, the offensive threatens to restart a general civil war in this oil-rich country, plunged into chaos since the overthrow of long-time leader Muammar Gaddafi, supported by NATO in 2011.
Fighting in the suburbs of the city has left at least 213 dead and more than a thousand wounded, the World Health Organization said Friday. More than 25,000 people have been displaced, according to the United Nations.
Haftar supports a rival administration in eastern Libya that refuses to recognize the authority of the government of a national agreement recognized by the United Nations in Tripoli and led by Prime Minister Fayez al-Serraj.
World powers divided
Rosiland Jordan, of the daily Al Jazeera, told Washington that the White House's Friday statement seemed to contradict the attitude of the US state department.
"Earlier this week, the State Department issued a statement calling on Haftar to end his military offensive and the United States is collaborating with the United Nations to try to negotiate a peace agreement in that country," he said. she said. .
"So, this raises the question of whether there is talk of an American president who goes against his own foreign policy on a world issue as critical as that of Libya."
Jordan added that it was not clear if Trump had initiated the call.
"The statement to the White House notes that he and Haftar spoke on Monday, it could have been." Haftar seeks some kind of approval on the world stage and asked to have a conversation with the president, "he said. she declared.
The announcement came one day after the United States and Russia declared that they could no longer support a UN Security Council resolution calling for a ceasefire in Libya to the moment.
Russia opposed the resolution drafted by Britain accusing Haftar of being behind the latest outbreak of violence, but the United States has not motivated its decision. The draft resolution would also invite countries with influence over warring parties to ensure compliance and unconditional access to humanitarian badistance in Libya.
Meanwhile, the countries of Europe and the Middle East were also divided on the Haftar offensive in Tripoli.
Italy and France have already clashed against Libya, but on Friday the foreign ministers of both countries said they were trying to forge a common strategy for this North African country.
Jean-Yves Le Drian, French Minister for Foreign Affairs, told the press at the end of a meeting in Rome with his American counterpart: "There is no such thing as progress in Libya without a solid Franco-Italian agreement. "
Enzo Moavero Milanesi, the Italian minister, said senior ministry officials will meet next week in the Italian capital "to chart the way towards a goal that remains shared".
Protesters in Tripoli accused French President Emmanuel Macron of supporting Haftar, but the French Embbady in Libya tweeted in Arabic that Paris was "opposed to the attack" of the city.
Haftar is supported by Egypt, the United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia, who see it as an anchor point for restoring stability in Libya. But Qatar has said that a UN-imposed arms embargo on Libya should be strictly enforced to prevent the commander from receiving weapons.
The UN refugee agency also announced Friday that it has evacuated 163 refugees and migrants from Libya to neighboring Niger, but more than 3,000 are still stranded in detention centers affected by clashes between LNA forces. and GNA.
The Libyan authorities had previously arrested refugees and migrants to prevent their pbadage into Europe.
UNHCR said refugees from various African nations included dozens of women and children, all detained in detention centers near the front lines of the conflict.
The agency said it remained "extremely concerned" for the safety of those who remain "trapped" in Libya.
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