Sirte a thorny issue in Libya, even after ceasefire

Ali Rajab

Libya prepares itself for negotiations, especially after the eastern Libya Parliament Speaker Aguila Saleh and the President of the western Libya-based Presidential Council Fayez al-Sarraj announced a ceasefire.

However, there is a caveat in the statements each of the two politicians released in this regard.

Saleh called for turning the northeastern city of Sirte into a venue for the Presidential Council, whereas al-Sarraj wants the same city to be disarmed.

Al-Sarraj said in his statement that a police force to be formed from eastern and western Libya should be responsible for guarding the city.

He also called for getting foreign fighters out of Libya.

Al-Sarraj called for holding parliamentary and presidential elections in March next year, in the light of constitutional regulations to be agreed by the Libyans.

In his statement, Saleh said a ceasefire would prevent foreign interference in Libya, drive foreign mercenaries out and disband the militias present in the country.

He said the same ceasefire would help the National Oil Corporation return to work and resume oil exports.

Sirte, he said, would be the new temporary venue of the Presidential Council. He noted that the city should be guarded by a police force to be formed from all parts of Libya.

Saleh added that oil revenues would be used only after reaching a political settlement to the conflict in Libya under supervision from the United Nations and the international community.

He also called for launching a comprehensive national reconciliation.

Nevertheless, he said he did not discuss the idea of disarming Sirte with anybody. He called for forming a national unity government that represents all classes of the Libyan people.

Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi welcomed the ceasefire declaration and considered it a step on the road of reaching a political settlement to the conflict in Libya.

A large number of other international officials and regional and international organizations also welcomed the ceasefire declaration.