Germany backs UN call for truce in Libya

By Ayhan Simsek </p> <p>BERLIN (AA) – Germany on Thursday backed a UN call for a humanitarian ceasefire in Libya in order to prevent an escalation in the country towards a full-scale civil war. </p> <p>“UN special envoy Salame has called for a humanitarian ceasefire, and we fully support this,” German Foreign Minister Heiko Maas said at a joint news conference in Berlin with his Qatari counterpart Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al Thani.</p> <p>Maas renewed Germany’s call on eastern Libyan military commander Khalifa Haftar to immediately stop his offensive on the capital city of Tripoli.</p> <p>“Anyone who believes that he can force a decision with a military offensive is in fact living an illusion. And the international community should make this very clear,” he said, adding that such military steps would only undermine a political solution and risk the lives of innocent people. </p> <p>Al Thani underlined that Germany’s taking over of the UN Security Council presidency this month has further increased Berlin’s role for peace and stability in the region. </p> <p>“We have discussed how Germany, during its UN Security Council presidency, can contribute efforts to prevent a further escalation in Libya and help return to the political process,” he said. </p> <p>Al Thani criticized commander Haftar for escalating the conflict in Libya by launching a military campaign to capture Tripoli from the UN-backed government.</p> <p>“We will continue to support the Government of National Accord,” he said. </p> <p>Commander Haftar announced last week that his forces are launching a military campaign to capture Tripoli.</p> <p>The Libyan capital saw renewed clashes on Thursday between Haftar’s forces and forces loyal to Tripoli-based Government of National Accord (GNA).</p> <p>Libya has remained beset by turmoil since 2011, when a bloody NATO-backed uprising led to the ouster and death of President Muammar Gaddafi after four decades in power.</p> <p>Since then, the country’s stark political divisions have yielded two rival seats of power: one in eastern Libya, with which strongman Khalifa Haftar is associated, and another in Tripoli, which enjoys UN support.