Video: On June 5, 2020, Stephane Dujarric, spokesman for UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, voices concern about the continued fighting in Libya, particularly its impact on civilians. (Xinhua)
Stephanie Williams, the UN secretary-general's acting special representative for Libya and head of the UNSMIL, is continuing her engagements with the parties.
UNITED NATIONS, June 5 (Xinhua) -- The United Nations on Friday voiced concern about the continued fighting in Libya, particularly its impact on civilians.
"We are following extremely closely the rapid developments on the ground in Libya as the fighting is continuing," said Stephane Dujarric, spokesman for UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres. "Our concern remains with the impact of the continued violence on civilians, as well as the knock-on impact forcing further displacements of the civilian population."
Fighters of the UN-backed Libyan government's forces are seen in the Qasr bin Ghashir area, southern Tripoli, Libya, on June 4, 2020. The spokesman of the UN-backed Libyan government's forces, Mohamed Gonono, on Thursday announced taking over the entire capital Tripoli and expelling the rival eastern-based army. (Photo by Hamza Turkia/Xinhua)
The UN Support Mission in Libya (UNSMIL) calls on all the parties to de-escalate and to curb incitement and the use of hate speech. It is important to remind the parties of their responsibilities under international human rights law and international humanitarian law, he told a virtual press briefing.
Stephanie Williams, the UN secretary-general's acting special representative for Libya and head of the UNSMIL, is continuing her engagements with the parties, according to the spokesman.
Williams on Wednesday met with the five members of the east-based Libyan National Army (LNA) delegation. She is yet to meet with the delegation of the internationally recognized Government of National Accord (GNA) in Tripoli.
Smoke rises from Abou Slim area in Tripoli, Libya, on May 6, 2020. Indiscriminate shelling on Wednesday killed three civilians and injured 19 others in Libya's capital Tripoli, said a Libyan official. (Photo by Amru Salahuddien/Xinhua)
Dujarric said the meeting will take place in the coming days, without giving a specific date.
There is an existing draft cease-fire agreement that was presented by the UNSMIL to the parties in February. That constitutes the most solid basis for a resumption of the discussions between the LNA and the GNA and to bring an end to the fighting, said Dujarric.
The LNA launched an attack on Tripoli in April 2019. As the LNA is losing ground, the United Nations is trying to bring the emboldened GNA on board for cease-fire talks. ■
