Tripoli: Europe and the Arabs - Agencies

A group of municipalities, local councils, and tribal leaders declared, in a statement read out before the Prime Minister's Office in Tripoli, their adherence to the Libyan people's choice to hold legislative elections and a constitutional referendum.
The statement, which comes two days before UN envoy to Libya Hannah Tetteh's briefing before the Security Council next Thursday, in which she is expected to unveil the UN plan to resolve the Libyan crisis, emphasized that the participants stand "unified to amplify the voice of the people and insist that their voice be the final word." The signatories of the statement called on the Prime Minister of the Government of National Unity to fulfill his pledges to the people and support their will by proceeding with the elections and the constitutional referendum. They also called on the United Nations Support Mission in Libya (UNSMIL) to abide by its responsibilities under the Geneva Political Agreement and support the electoral and constitutional process. According to a report published by the Youm7 website in Cairo, the participants addressed messages to the Security Council and the international community urging them to support the "legitimate steps" taken by the Government of National Unity to impose the authority of the state and the law, and to combat organized crime networks that smuggle fuel, weapons, and human beings.
The statement also held the Presidential Council, as the supreme commander of the Libyan army, responsible for what they described as "fake promotions" within the military establishment, believing that they exacerbate divisions and hinder the process of unifying the institution. Last month, the United Nations Support Mission in Libya (UNSMIL) issued a statement stating that, in light of repeated reports of continued military build-up in and around Tripoli, the capital, UNSMIL urged all parties to refrain from the use of force, particularly in densely populated areas, and to avoid any political actions or rhetoric that could lead to escalation or spark new clashes. According to the UN daily news bulletin, which added, "In a statement, the mission reminded all political and security parties of their obligations under international law to protect the lives and property of civilians, and stressed that those who commit attacks against civilians will be held accountable.
The mission explained that it is continuing its efforts to calm the situation, calling on all parties to engage in good faith in this process. It also urged the urgent implementation of the security arrangements established by the Truce and Security and Military Arrangements Commissions, which the mission continues to support.
The UNSMIL mission stressed the need for the forces recently deployed in Tripoli to withdraw without delay. It emphasized that dialogue—not violence—is the only way to achieve lasting peace and stability in Tripoli and throughout Libya.
This comes after the Libyan House of Representatives and the High Council of State reached a political agreement on the formation of a unified government to oversee the organization of elections and move the country from the transitional marathon towards determining the country's final status. According to the Emirati Al Bayan website, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Aguila Saleh, and the President of the State Council, Khaled Al-Mishri stressed the need to develop a clear roadmap aimed at forming a unified government that would create the appropriate conditions for holding simultaneous presidential and parliamentary elections.