The Libyan diplomatic mission in Egypt and all its diplomatic attachés announced on Saturday that they disowned the Government of National Accord (GNA) headed by Fayez Al-Sarraj. The mission declared in a statement that they would only serve as representatives of "the Libyan people, national army, and elected parliament." Since 2014, Libya had competing governments based in Tripoli and the east. Libya's House of Representatives, the country's only elected institution, was Libya's internationally recognised chamber at the time of a UN-backed deal in 2015 that led to the formation of the GNA. The diplomats revealed that all the staff, topped by the ambassador, the charge d'affaires, the consul, and the attachés working at the embassy, do not recognise the GNA after signing unrecognised agreements with the Turkish side, and urged other Libyan embassies to follow suit. The statement said that Al-Sarraj government supports terrorism and neglect the rights of the Libyan people. Accordingly, the mission said that it would serve as a representative of Libyan Arab Armed Forces (LAAF) and the House of Representatives, affirming support for the army's fight to rid Libya of criminal and terrorist gangs. On Thursday, LAAF Commander Khalifa Haftar ordered his forces to advance towards the centre of Tripoli, in what he said would be the "final battle" for the capital, promising immunity for who lay down their arms. LAAF – previously called Libyan National Army (LNA) – launched an offensive in April to try to take control of Tripoli. The offensive managed to gain ground but stalled on the outskirts of Tripoli. The maritime border deal, signed last week between the GNA and Turkey, was denounced by Greece, Cyprus, and Egypt, as it – according to international law – illegally claim rights over oil and gas drilling rights in the eastern Mediterranean. The 27 November agreement claims a sea corridor between Libya and Turkey and in areas where Greece considers its maritime rights. Accordingly, the three countries have blasted the maritime border accord as being contrary to international law, and Greece expelled its Libyan ambassador. Also, Aguila Saleh Issa, speaker of the Libyan House of Representatives said on Thursday, that he disagreed with an accord between Libya and Turkey. In addition, the European Union leaders said in a Friday statement that the Turkey-Libya agreement "infringes upon the sovereign rights of third states, does not comply with the Law of the Sea, and cannot produce any legal consequences for third states."
