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A30 WORLD NEWS
Diabierna 27 Mei 2022

Rival Libya leader says he has no plans to rule from Tripoli

SIRTE, Libya (AP) — One ing in the closure of oil fa-
of Libya's rival prime minis- cilities — including Libya's
ters told The Associated Press largest oil field — in areas
that he has no immediate controlled by Hifter's forces.
plans to rule from the capital Bashagha said he was not be-
of Tripoli, after his attempted hind the stoppage of oil pro-
move there last week sparked duction, but that local tribes
clashes and fears of a return had decided to take matters
to widespread civil strife. into their own hands, not
In an interview late Wednes- wanting to fund Dbeibah's
day, Prime Minister Fathi government.
Bashagha said that his gov- Bashagha said Abdel-Ghani
ernment will work from its al-Kikli, a Tripoli militia
headquarters in Sirte, a city leader, was part of the ef-
on the Mediterranean coast fort to attack him after he
about halfway between the entered Tripoli. Al-Kikli
country's east and west. Rival was previously implicated in
administrations from each war crimes by global rights
end of Libya claim to be its groups, but has headed a
legitimate rulers until elec- nebulous body called the Sta-
tions are held. bility Support Authority that
Describing last week's events, reports to the Tripoli govern-
Bashagha said he had entered ment since 2021.
Tripoli in a civilian car and Bashagha also addressed crit-
that those escorting him were icism that in areas under his
unarmed. A young man was control when he was interior
killed during the incident. minister under a previous
Bashagha identified him as Tripoli-based government,
Ahmed Alashabab, calling the situation remained abys-
him a supporter who was mal for migrants setting out
defending him from militia- from Libya on Mediterra-
men. nean crossings to Europe. Af-
"We do not blame ourselves ter being intercepted, many
for having entered the city," are kept in squalid detention
he said. "I had said that I centers where they face tor-
would not enter the capital ture, assault, and deprivation.
unless conditions were 100% his rival, Prime Minister Ab- elections. chaos in Libya. The country Bashagha said he couldn't be
favorable." dul Hamid Dbeibah, based in Dbeibah's appointment last reverted to its long-running held responsible, claiming he
Oil-rich Libya has been Tripoli in the country's west, year, as part of the U.N.-led political impasse, with rival didn't have enough funding
wracked by conflict since has refused to step down, process, was clouded by al- governments claiming pow- or staff to improve the situ-
a NATO-backed uprising insisting he will hand over legations of corruption and er. Dbeibah has repeatedly ation.
toppled and killed longtime power only to an elected gov- bribery. As an interim prime promised to hold elections In a message to the coun-
dictator Moammar Gadhafi ernment. minister, Dbeibah was to soon. try's war-torn Central Bank,
in 2011. It has been split Last week's fighting in Tripoli have led the country through Bashagha said he doubts his Bashagha called on it to pay
between rival administra- was the most serious there elections in December, but rival can unite the country out his government's budget
tions in the east and west, since 2020, when east-based the vote never took place. and organize orderly voting, that was passed by the east-
each supported by different commander Khalifa Hifter Both Dbeibah and Bashagha claiming Dbeibah does not based lawmakers. The bank
militias and foreign govern- and his forces waged a year- hail from the western city of command enough loyalty is the repository for billions
ments. The establishment of long campaign to try to take Misrata, a base of influential outside of the capital. of dollars annually in oil rev-
Bashagha's government in the city with backing from militias. "He will only be able to hold enue as well as foreign re-
Sirte is likely to further ce- Russian mercenaries. They Lawmakers have argued that them in Tripoli," he said, serves. In 2014, it splintered
ment the political divide. eventually failed to do so, Dbeibah's mandate expired adding that his own govern- along the country's broader
Bashagha, a former interior after Tripoli forces were bol- after Libya failed to hold ment is looking at holding political fault lines.
minister and air force pilot, stered by Turkish military presidential elections on nationwide elections within
was named prime minister help. Since then, U.N. me- schedule. The failure was a 14 months.
by the country's east-based diators have tried to get the major blow to international The impasse worsened over
parliament in February. But country on a path towards efforts to end a decade of the past two months, result-

Thai leader: Asia is gaining strategic, economic importance

Chan-ocha said Thursday the United States work more crease economic growth by
that a new U.S.-backed eco- closely with Asian economies keeping markets open and
nomic pact is further proof of on issues including supply inclusive as the world faces
how important and relevant chains, digital trade, clean disruptions such as the coro-
Asia is today. energy and anticorruption ef- navirus pandemic and Rus-
"Asia is still expanding and forts. sia's invasion of Ukraine.
gaining more influence in The signatories are Australia, "Sustainable economic
terms of strategic and eco- Brunei, India, Indonesia, Ja- growth is only possible when
nomic importance," Prayuth pan, Malaysia, New Zealand, we are able to adopt to any
said. the Philippines, Singapore, disruption," Prayuth said.
U.S. President Joe Biden and South Korea, Thailand, the Thailand is the host of next
Japanese Prime Minister Fu- United States and Vietnam. year's Asia-Pacific Economic
mio Kishida announced ear- Together they represent 40% Cooperation forum summit.
lier this week during a visit by of the world's GDP. Prayuth said APEC is at a
Biden to Japan that 13 coun- Prayuth is in Tokyo to attend critical juncture, with a need
tries have joined the Indo-Pa- the "The Future of Asia" or- to achieve peace and drive
cific Economic Framework, a ganized by Nikkei Inc. economic growth.
TOKYO (AP) — Thai Prime Minister Prayuth new trade pact that will help He stressed the need to in-