Libya’s Government of National Accord (GNA) Prime Minister Fayez al-Sarraj assigned a number of officials to new military posts, building up tensions with eastern-based Libyan National Army (LNA) commander Marshal Khalifa Hafter.
Sarraj renewed Colonel Faraj Al-Barasi’s contract, having him serve for another year, and later issued an additional decision to promote him to the rank of Brigadier General.
Tripoli-based Sarraj appointed Major General Abdullah Aoun, a former military commander who served under the Gaddafi regime in 2011, as a military advisor to the GNA’s presidential council.
Sarraj’s government is supported by the United Nations and recognized on an international scale.
The Egyptian capital hosted a set of meetings between Libyan officers who agree on unifying the country's military establishment under a single system led by Hafter.
Sarraj's attempt to appear as supreme commander in control of armed forces would delay an agreement being developed in Cairo, source close to Hafter told Asharq Al-Awsat.
The fifth meeting of its kind since last year was held recently in the Egyptian capital.
On the other hand, Libya’s Muslim Brotherhood political branch, the Justice and Construction Party, threatened to sue a group of cultural and media elites and activists who called for an end to the party's activity.
In a statement, the party reserved the right to file a lawsuit against inciters, saying that it as a party is “paying a heavy price because of its commitment to promoting a democratic transition process.”
On that note, Head of the UN mission to Libya Ghassan Salame held talks in Benghazi with the authorities running eastern Libya following talks in Tripoli with the GNA and the Supreme State Council heads (Sarraj and Abdulrahman Sewehli).
It was reported that Salame discussed with Benghazi Mayor Abdul Rahman al-Abbar efforts to stabilize the situation in Libya.
The UN Mission announced that it documented 146 civilian casualties; 13 deaths and 133 injuries sustained during the course of hostilities throughout Libya during in February alone.
