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2020-04-30 Africa North
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Libya's Haftar Announces Ramadan Truce
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[AnNahar] Libya strongman Khalifa Haftar
...Self-proclaimed Field Marshal, served in the Libyan army under Muammar Qadaffy, and took part in the coup that brought Qadaffy to power in 1969. He became a prisoner of war in Chad in 1987. While held prisoner, he and his fellow officers formed a group hoping to overthrow Qadaffy, so it's kind of hard to describe him as a Qadaffy holdover. He was released around 1990 in a deal with the United States government and spent nearly two decades in the United States, gaining US citizenship. In 1993, while living in the United States, he was convicted in absentia of crimes against the Jamahiriya and sentenced to death. Haftar held a senior position in the anti-Qadaffy forces in the 2011 Libyan Civil War. In 2014 he was commander of the Libyan Army when the General National Congress (GNC) refused to give up power in accordance with its term of office. Haftar launched a campaign against the GNC and its Islamic fundamentalist allies. His campaign allowed elections to take place to replace the GNC, but then developed into a civil war. Guess you can't win them all. Actually, he is, but slowly...
said Wednesday his forces would cease hostilities for the Moslem holy month of Ramadan following international calls for a truce in the war-torn country.
"The commander general announces the halting of military operations from his side," a front man for Haftar, who controls swathes of eastern and southern Libya, said from the eastern city of Benghazi.
Haftar's rival, the UN-recognised Government of National Accord (GNA) had yet to respond, and an AFP correspondent reported hearing explosions in the centre of the capital Tripoli
...a confusing city, one end of which is located in Lebanon and the other end of which is the capital of Libya. Its chief distinction is being mentioned in the Marine Hymn...
after the announcement.
The call for a truce during Ramadan, which began in Libya on April 24, came in response to "appeals from friendly nations," the Haftar front man said.
He warned violations by the GNA would be met with an "immediate and harsh response."
Last week, the UN, EU and several countries called for both sides to lay down their arms during the holy month.
The announcement comes after pro-Haftar forces suffered a series of setbacks in recent weeks, with GNA forces ousting them from two key coastal cities west of Tripoli.
Backed by The Sick Man of Europe Turkey
 ...the only place on the face of the earth that misses the Ottoman Empire...
, GNA troops are now encircling Haftar's main rear base at Tarhunah, 60 kilometres (39 miles) southeast of the capital.
Since launching an offensive to seize Tripoli last April, several cease-fires between Haftar's forces and the GNA have fallen through, with both sides accusing the other of violations.
Haftar's opponents accuse him of wanting to establish a new military dictatorship in the country.
On Monday he claimed he had "a popular mandate" to govern, declaring a key 2015 political deal over and vowing to press his assault to seize Tripoli.
The oil-rich North African nation has been gripped by chaos since the ouster and killing of longtime dictator Moamer Qadaffy in 2011.
That was President Obama’s trademark “Responsibility to Protect”, for which he did whatever the ladies on his team in concert with key European governments wanted. 
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Posted by trailing wife 2020-04-30 02:15||
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File under: Arab Spring
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Posted by Skidmark 2020-04-30 18:00||
2020-04-30 18:00||
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Posted by magpie 2020-04-30 18:34||
2020-04-30 18:34||
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