Libyan Army Commander Calls for Parliament to be Suspended

Local Editor

A Libyan military commander on Friday called for the interim parliament to be suspended and a presidential committee to be formed to govern until new elections in what he described as a road map to "rescue" the country.

Major General Khalifa Haftar was a leading figure in the 2011 revolution against Muammar Gaddafi, but it was not clear how much influence he has even within the small, nascent army in a country where other militia groups are more powerful.

Since the fall of Gaddafi, Libya has had a fragile government and armed forces unable to impose their authority on competing political factions and the brigades of former rebels who refuse to disarm.

Tripoli was calm, with telecommunications normal, and Reuters witnesses said there were no immediate signs of any extraordinary troop movements or activity outside the parliament, the prime minister's office or any ministries.

"The national command of the Libyan army is declaring a movement for the new road map," Haftar said in a statement in which he said the armed forces were calling for Libya to be "rescued" from its upheaval.
He further said: "We will hold meetings with different parties and groups regarding implementing this road map."

A spokesman for the General National Congress [GNC] parliament dismissed the statement.

Source: News Agencies, Edited by website team