Libya Unity Gov’t Seeks Talks After Rival Seizes Oil Ports
Local Editor
The head of Libya's UN-backed unity government called for urgent talks Wednesday after forces loyal to a rival administration seized the main eastern oil ports in defiance of world powers.
The fighting between the two sides - the first since the unity government started work in the capital Tripoli in March - was the latest escalation of the chaos that has gripped Libya since the overthrow of Muammar Gadhafi in 2011.
A bombing campaign by Britain and France was instrumental in the veteran dictator's ouster, and a key British parliamentary committee on Wednesday joined mounting criticism of the two governments for their failure to shape its aftermath.
This week's seizure of all four export terminals in Libya's so-called oil crescent was a major blow to the Government of National Accord [GNA], which is almost entirely dependent on oil revenues for its income.
UN envoy Martin Kobler, who had called repeatedly for a halt to the offensive led by controversial military strongman Khalifa Haftar, was to brief the Security Council on the crisis later Wednesday.
The unity government is the centerpiece of UN efforts to restore stability to Libya and it now faces an even tougher battle to assert its authority over the rival administration in the east.
GNA head Fayez al-Sarraj said that Libya was at a "turning point" after the assault on the oil ports with its future as a united nation in serious question.
The capture of the oil crescent means that the rival administration now controls virtually all of the eastern Cyrenaica region.
The writ of Sarraj's government is confined to the western Tripolitania region where its forces have been battling Daesh terrorists in the coastal city of Sirte for months.
Source: News Agencies, Edited by website team
