Libya warlord Haftar says 'open to dialogue' after repeatedly rejecting calls for talks

Libyan warlord Khalifa Haftar said on Wednesday night that he is open to dialogue, after repeatedly rejecting UN calls for talks.

MENA

2 min read

The New Arab

26 September, 2019

Haftar enjoys varying levels of support from Egypt, UAE, US, Russia, and France [Getty]

Libyan warlord Khalifa Haftar, whose forces have been battling to capture the seat of the UN-recognised government in Tripoli since April, has said he is open to dialogue after repeatedly rejecting UN calls for talks.

"When all is said and done, we need dialogue and we need to sit down" at the negotiating table, Hafar said in a statement issued on Wednesday night on the eve of a special session on Libya on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly in New York.

Fayez al-Sarraj, the head of the Libya's Government of National Accord, denounced foreign powers on Wednesday for backing Haftar, whom he described as a "bloodthirsty criminal."

"It is regrettable that other countries continue to interfere" in Libya, he said at the United Nations General Assembly, naming the United Arab Emirates, France and Egypt.

Libya has been mired in chaos and violence since an uprising toppled and killed dictator Muammar Gaddafi in 2011.

In April, Haftar's self-styled Libyan National Army launched an offensive to take the capital, Tripoli.

Haftar enjoys varying levels of support from Egypt, the United Arab Emirates, the United States, Russia, and France.

Since April, fighting between pro-GNA and pro-Haftar forces has killed at least 1,093 people and wounded 5,752, while some 120,000 others have been displaced, according to the World Health Organization.

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