Libyan council calls for all-out war against 'war-criminal' Haftar

A Libyan council has called for the mobilisation of troops against General Haftar in Libya, following an escalation in violence in the south of the country.

The Misrata municipal council called Haftar a "war criminal" in a statement on Wednesday, and denounced his forces' airstrikes on Misrata dignitaries at the al-Jufra air base on Tuesday.

"We urge all forces and fighters to be on high alert and we call for the mobilization of forces to fight the war criminal General Khalifa Haftar and his forces," the council said in its statement.

"We hold the war criminal Haftar responsible for undermining the security and stability of the homeland, and the cultivation of sedition and terror among its citizens."

The announcement is not signed by any one person and contains three stamps attributable to the Misrata municipal council, the Misrata military council and the president of the shura council.

Forces loyal to Haftar bombed a military transport aircraft, containing several high-ranking Misrata council members, at the Jufra air base on Tuesday.

	[Click to expand] The original announcement from Misrata municipal council [source: Libya al-Mostakbal]

The former mayor of Misrata, Yousif Ben Yousif, was on board and said one person died and another military officer was injured.

"Colonel Ibrahim Bayt al-Mal, the spokesman for the Misrata Military Council, was injured in the airstrike."

A source in the Misrata council confirmed that the plane was carrying weapons, in addition to a delegation of Misrata council VIPs.

The Head of the United Nations Support Mission in Libya (UNSMIL), Martin Kobler, issued a statement on Wednesday, warning against the escalation of violence, which could lead to fresh conflict in central Libya.

"I urge all parties to act with restraint and to resolve issues through peaceful dialogue," said Kobler.


[Click to expand]