The United Nations Support Mission in Libya (UNSMIL)
TRIPOLI, Aug 26 (NNN-Xinhua) — The United Nations Support Mission in Libya (UNSMIL) said it was dismayed by an armed group affiliated to the eastern-based army halting elections scheduled to take place in the southern town of Traghen, some 780 km south of the capital Tripoli.
“Municipal Council elections represent the vitality of the democratic process at the local level and UNSMIL warmly welcomed the elections that took place in Ghat last week,” UNSMIL said in a statement.
“We are thus dismayed that Tuesday, in Traghen, an armed group affiliated with the ‘Libyan Arab Armed Forces,’ halted the elections scheduled for that municipality,” the statement said.
The mission reminded all parties in Libya of their obligations to act in accordance with international law and called on them to protect democratic processes across the country.
Meanwhile, Fayez Serraj, prime minister of Libya’s UN-backed government, discussed with executives of U.S. military and security firm Jones Consulting International cooperation, according to the prime minister’s information office.
“The meeting discussed a common vision for capacity-building programs to face various challenges and risks, as well as defeating terrorist and extremism organizations. The meeting also discussed coordination mechanisms between Jones and the Libyan security and defense institutions,” the office said in a statement.
“The prime minister spoke about the great importance the Government of National Accord attaches to building and developing Libyan military and security capabilities in accordance with the latest international standards. He reviewed a set of directions and measures to achieve this, including the use of the expertise of international institutions such as the U.S. firm Jones,” it said.
Senior security and military officials of the UN-backed government attended the meeting, according to the statement.
Libyan security services are struggling to achieve stability and security in the war-torn country. — NNN-XINHUA
