UN mission, Libyan Presidency Council establish committee to facilitate long-term ceasefire

TRIPOLI, May 18 (Xinhua) -- The UN Support Mission in Libya (UNSMIL) on Sunday announced the establishment of a truce committee jointly with the country's Presidency Council, which serves as the supreme commander of the Libyan Army.

The committee, launched after the deadly clashes that erupted in the capital Tripoli days ago, focuses on facilitating a permanent ceasefire with emphasis on the protection of all civilians, and is to agree on security arrangements for Tripoli, according to a UNSMIL statement.

The committee, headed by the Chief of General Staff of the Libyan Army, Mohammed Al-Haddad, demonstrated a commitment from all sides to avoid further escalation, the statement said.

UNSMIL reiterated the United Nations Security Council's concerns over the reports of civilian casualties caused by the recent violence in Tripoli, calling for an immediate, unconditional, and permanent ceasefire.

Violent clashes broke out in different parts of Tripoli between forces loyal to Prime Minister Abdul-Hamed Dbeibah and the Stability Support Apparatus (SSA), a powerful armed group aligned with the Presidency Council.

Security sources said the clashes left at least six people dead until a ceasefire was announced on Wednesday.

Libya has remained divided since the 2011 NATO-backed uprising that toppled longtime leader Muammar Gaddafi. The country is split between rival administrations: the UN-recognized Government of National Unity (GNU) in Tripoli and an eastern-based government backed by the Libyan National Army (LNA) under commander Khalifa Haftar. The Libyan Army, part of the Libyan military forces, was named to contrast with the other part that retains the LNA identity.

Within Tripoli and other areas under GNU control, armed factions continue to vie for influence, often violently, despite repeated calls for disarmament and unification of security institutions. Enditem