Libya’s August 23 Movement has urged its followers to join a peaceful protest against deteriorating living conditions in the capital Tripoli.
According to organizers, demonstrators will join the rally from several areas in the city and converge on Martyrs' Square.
Heeding the call of the August 23 Movement, a few demonstrators gathered at the square.
Meanwhile, the Libyan National Army (LNA) boosted the presence of its forces west of Sirte.
Although the LNA did not officially announce the mobilization of its forces, local sources confirmed to Asharq Al-Awsat that a number of units were deployed within the vicinity of Sirte.
In other news, the Head of the High National Elections Commission (HNEC), Emad Al-Sayeh, confirmed on Friday that the Commission was not yet ready to hold elections in Libya, due to a lack of resources.
Al-Sayeh stressed that in the event of lack of support for the committee, it would be incapable of holding the polls.
He expressed surprise at the call of the head of the Government of National Accord (GNA), Fayez Al-Sarraj, to organize elections next March, given that the minimum budget has not been submitted to the committee so far.
“The GNA has been exerting pressure on the Commission for five years, until it became unable to manage its routine affairs,” he added.
Al-Sayeh emphasized that its practices prevent the Commission from holding any polls in 2021 and stressed the government’s inability to support any electoral process.
The head of the HNEC indicated that the lack of funding prevents it from carrying out its role in informing voters regarding the laws, candidacies, and electoral systems.
On August 21, Sarraj called for presidential and parliamentary elections to be held next March, based on a constitutional rule agreed upon by the people. He also called for an immediate ceasefire, an end to all military operations, as well as a resumption of oil production.
