In an unexpected development surrounding the violence in western Libya since retired General Khalifa Haftar launched “Operation Dignity”, Western powers have expressed their ire over his military operations on the outskirts of Benghazi. They have also reiterated their criticisms of the Ansar Al-Sharia organisation there and their condemnations of the violence in Libya in general, calling for a halt to the hostilities in both the west and east of the country. A “Joint Statement on Libya by the Governments of France, Germany, Italy, the UK and the US” stated: “The governments of France, Italy, Germany, the United Kingdom and the United States strongly condemn the ongoing violence in Libya and call for an immediate cessation of hostilities.” The statement, released Saturday evening, harshly censured Ansar Al-Sharia: “We condemn the crimes of Ansar Al-Sharia entities, and the ongoing violence in communities across Libya, including Tripoli and its environs.” It then cautioned: “Libya's hard fought freedom is at risk if Libyan and international terrorist groups are allowed to use Libya as a safe haven.” Significantly, for the first time since Operation Dignity was launched on 16 May, these nations also reserved criticism for the continuing assaults being undertaken by forces loyal to General Haftar: “We are also concerned by Khalifa Haftar's attacks in Benghazi. We consider that Libya's security challenges and the fight against terrorist organisations can only be sustainably addressed by regular armed forces under the control of a central authority which is accountable to a democratic and inclusive parliament.” The five nations in their joint statement went on to express their full support for the work of UN special envoy and head of UN Support Mission in Libya (UNSMIL) Bernadino Leon and to urge all parties to cooperate with his efforts. They added: “After the Ghadames and Tripoli meetings, negotiations should be pursued with goodwill and adopting inclusive policies, with the aim of finding an agreement on the location of the House of Representatives elected last 25 June and laying the foundations for a Government of National Unity.” Although the five nations cautioned that they “stand ready to use individual sanctions in accordance with UN Security Council Resolution 2174 against those who threaten the peace, stability or security of Libya,” they simultaneously stressed that “there is no military solution to the Libyan crisis,” for which reason “[we] are particularly dismayed that after meetings in Ghadames and Tripoli, parties have not respected calls for a ceasefire.” The statement underscored how important it was that the international community “acts in a united manner on Libya on the basis of the principles and understandings agreed at recent meetings, namely in New York and Madrid.” It concluded by encouraging “all partners to refrain from actions which might exacerbate current divisions in order to let Libyans address the current crisis within the framework of UN-facilitated talks.” The joint statement was issued two days before the Supreme Court was set to announce its verdict on the appeal filed by parliamentary representatives who have been boycotting the sessions of parliament that have been convening in the eastern city of Tobruk. The ruling is certain to have an impact on the course of militia operations in the country. The five nations also issued their statement after the failure of the call issued by Haftar's forces for a popular uprising in Benghazi on 15 October to liberate the city from the hold of the forces of the Shura Council of Benghazi Revolutionaries (SCBR) which consists primarily of Islamist groupings. SCBR forces have remained in control of the eastern city since August when they succeeded in expelling government forces. In western Libya, the Libya Dawn forces have seized control of the capital and its environs after a long battle with Bedouin tribal forces that had fought to expel militias from Misrata and allied cities from the capital during the protracted power struggle over wealth and power in the country. The statement points to the shifting fate of General Haftar and his military campaign which has failed to bring the deteriorating security situation under control in eastern Libya. The mention of his name suggests that he, too, may be subject to the “individual sanctions” that the five powers warned that they were ready to bring to bear against the commanders of the warring militias in Libya. Prior to this, on 14 October, the retired general issued a statement saying that the success of the battle to liberate Benghazi would be the ideal way to conclude his military career. As for the soldiers who fought for Operation Dignity, they should receive all due esteem from the Libyan people. However, he stressed, these soldiers should also return to serving under the command of the General Chief of Staffs of the Libyan Army, in which he has the fullest confidence. As the five-nation joint statement indicated, the UN-sponsored dialogue and international appeals have so far failed to inspire a halt to the violence. If some parties are bent on military victory, others are keen to secure a concrete balance of powers on the ground in order to tip the scales in their favour in future negotiations. Meanwhile, Fathi Bashaga, the MP from Misrata who is acting as coordinator for the participants in the Ghadames dialogue who represent the MPs boycotting the parliamentary sessions in Tobruk, described the dialogue as an “attempt to mend excesses and mistakes”, adding that all participants were keen to rectify the situation and return to commonly held principles. Addressing his constituents and fellow citizens from Misrata over the Internet on Friday, Bashaga stressed the need for “revolutionaries and their leaders” to participate in the dialogue in person, rather than through intermediaries. Politicians should not be allowed to “hijack” their demands and to advance themselves on the pretext that the dialogue should be comprehensive, he said. He added: “Misrata has the opportunity today to revive Libya and to come to peace in a victorious and not weak position.” At the same time he stressed his opposition to all epithets branding others as “heretics”, “traitors” or “terrorists,” indicating that a more tolerant and open spirit was needed. “When we determine to go the route of negotiations we understand that compromises have to be made in order to reach consensus,” he said. However, he added: “Dialogues is not a Quran... We cannot continue with it indefinitely or without the fixed principles of the February Revolution, such as the sovereignty of Libya, the rejection of foreign intervention, and the prosecution of all who have stained their hands with Libyan blood.” In the ongoing warfare in Benghazi between the forces fighting beneath Haftar's banner and those siding with SCBR, more than 70 fighters from both sides have been killed in the fighting from Wednesday to Saturday, according to the Benghazi Medical Centre, the largest hospital in the city. From the western part of the country where clashes are taking place in the vicinity of the Warshafana area come conflicting reports as to whether the forces closing in on that region are official army troops or militias allied with the Libya Dawn operation. Libyan army sources claim that their troops are advancing towards the Warshafana area while the Libya Dawn forces are retreating. The sources add that they have entered the vicinity around the Warshafana area and taken control of the areas of Nasseriya and Ras Al-Laf and that they are on the outskirts of Al-Aziziya, which is to say the southern suburbs of Tripoli. They report four dead in the fighting on Friday in the areas of Boushiba and Nasseriya. The Libya Dawn press office denies these reports and maintains that its forces are still in “full control” of the village of Nasseriya and the Warshafana area. In a statement published on its Facebook page, the Libya Dawn press office claimed that its forces had entered the Warshafana area and its villages over two weeks ago, reaching the northern borders of that area in the mountain villages of Bir Al-Ghanam, Wadi Al-Hayy and Aboushiba, and that the Warshafana area is “secured in its entirety”. Another Libya Dawn statement mentioned that on Friday its forces in the western region had repelled an attack by what it termed “militias of the army of the tribes” from the area of Bir Al-Ghanam. According to this statement, the clash took place at a T-junction with the road leading to Al-Aziziya at the Jebal Nafousa foothills. The statement added that Libya Dawn forces were now combing the area and preparing to take up new positions preparatory to carrying out new military plans.
