TRIPOLI, Sept 26 (NNN-Xinhua) — Spokesman for Libya’s east-based army Ahmad al-Mismari said that the army commander Khalifa Haftar supports national dialogue and political process in the country.
“There must be dialogue and political process eventually. The comprehensive national dialogue must preserve the national unity,” al-Mismari said, pointing out that the army “has repeatedly demanded presidential and parliamentary elections be held.”
This is the first demonstration of support for dialogue by Haftar since the beginning of the armed conflict with the UN-backed government nearly six months ago.
The east-based army and the government have been fighting in and around Tripoli since early April over the control of the capital.
The violence killed and injured thousands of people, and displaced nearly 120,000 civilians.
Libya has been plagued by political division and escalating violence ever since the fall of the late leader Muammar Gaddafi in 2011.
