Page 10 - aruba-today-20191214

A10 WORLD NEWS
Saturday 14 december 2019
Polish gov’t defends law to ‘discipline’ judges, amid outcry

By VANESSA GERA who strives to thwart his ri-
Associated Press val’s alleged attempts to
WARSAW, Poland (AP) — instate a military dictator-
The prime minister of Lib- ship in Libya. Meanwhile,
ya’s U.N.-supported gov- Hifter has argued that his
ernment Friday shrugged military operation seeks to
off threats by his rival, the purge the capital of radi-
commander of a self-styled cal militias allied with Sar-
army waging a months- raj’s government.
long offensive to capture The latest statements from
the capital Tripoli that the Hifter and Sarraj come
“zero hour” of the battle amid heightened tension
has begun. between the two warring
Prime Minister Fayez Sarraj sides after Sarraj’s govern-
called on Libyans to rally ment signed a security ar-
around him in the defense rangement and maritime
of the nation. deal with Turkey last month.
Sarraj’s call came a day af- Earlier this week, Turkish
ter Gen. Khalifa Hifter of the President Recep Tayyeb Er-
self-styled Libyan National People take part in a street demonstration to show solidarity with judges facing increased political dogan said the agreement
Army declared a final, “de- pressure from the country’s right-wing government in Warsaw, Poland, Sunday, Dec. 1, 2019. gives his country the right
cisive battle” to take Tripoli Associated Press to send troops to Libya to
from Sarraj’s U.N.-support- fend off Hifter’s forces from
ed government. “The zero Turkey and Qatar. After thousands of civilians have around the project of a Tripoli. The head of the EU’s
hour has ticked,” Hifter said nearly eight months of fight- been displaced. civil state and to show faith delegation for relations with
in a televised speech late ing, Khalifa’s forces have In a video posted on the in our right to build a state, Maghreb Countries, An-
Thursday. not taken Tripoli but have Libyan government’s Face- based on institutions, the drea Cozzolino, said Friday
Since 2015, war-torn Libya been held off on the city’s book page, Sarraj dismissed rule of law and liberties,” she was concerned about
has been divided between southern edges, instead Hifter’s claim about a new Sarraj said. “Libya can only Hifter’s threats and warned
two governments, one in laying siege on the Libyan push as “lies” and “delu- end up as an oasis for free- that a new offensive would
the east and the other in capital. The stalemated sions” and said his forces dom and democracy.” only lead “to more suffering
the west, based in Tripoli fighting has so far left more have already “taught the Since the fighting erupted, for the Libyan civilian pop-
and supported by the Unit- than 1,000 people dead, invaders a lesson.” Sarraj has portrayed him- ulation, who have already
ed Nations, as well as Italy, mostly combatants. Tens of “I call upon you to rally self as a democratic leader paid a high price.” q

Libyan PM unfazed by commander’s zero hour Tripoli push

By NOHA ELHENNAWY civilians have been dis-
Associated Press placed.
CAIRO (AP) — The prime In a video posted on the
minister of Libya’s U.N.-sup- Libyan government’s
ported government Friday Facebook page, Sarraj
shrugged off threats by his dismissed Hifter’s claim
rival, the commander of a about a new push as “lies”
self-styled army waging a and “delusions” and said
months-long offensive to his forces have already
capture the capital Tripoli “taught the invaders a les-
that the “zero hour” of the son.”
battle has begun. “I call upon you to rally
Prime Minister Fayez Sarraj around the project of a
called on Libyans to rally civil state and to show
around him in the defense faith in our right to build
of the nation. a state, based on institu-
Sarraj’s call came a day tions, the rule of law and
after Gen. Khalifa Hifter liberties,” Sarraj said. “Lib-
of the self-styled Libyan ya can only end up as an
National Army declared oasis for freedom and de-
a final, “decisive battle” mocracy.”
to take Tripoli from Sar- In this Aug. 14, 2017 file photo, Libyan militia commander General Khalifa Hifter, top center, Since the fighting erupted,
raj’s U.N.-supported gov- listens to Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, bottom center, during their meeting in Moscow, Sarraj has portrayed him-
Russia.
ernment. “The zero hour Associated Press self as a democratic lead-
has ticked,” Hifter said in er who strives to thwart his
a televised speech late rival’s alleged attempts to
Thursday. the United Nations, as well Emirates and Saudi Ara- city’s southern edges, in- instate a military dictator-
Since 2015, war-torn Lib- as Italy, Turkey and Qatar. bia, launched its push on stead laying siege on the ship in Libya. Meanwhile,
ya has been divided be- In April, Hifter’s east-based the capital. Libyan capital. The stale- Hifter has argued that his
tween two governments, army, which is backed by After nearly eight months mated fighting has so far military operation seeks to
one in the east and the France, Russia and key of fighting, Khalifa’s forces left more than 1,000 peo- purge the capital of radi-
other in the west, based Arab countries, including have not taken Tripoli but ple dead, mostly combat- cal militias allied with Sar-
in Tripoli and supported by Egypt, the United Arab have been held off on the ants. Tens of thousands of raj’s government. q