No Result
View All Result
Sunday, September 24, 2023
25 °c
Tripoli
24 ° Mon
24 ° Tue
24 ° Wed
25 ° Thu
  • Advertising
  • Contact
LibyaHerald
 
  • Home
  • Libya
  • Business
  • Opinion
  • Magazine
  • Advertising
  • Login
  • Register
SUBSCRIBE
  • Home
  • Libya
  • Business
  • Opinion
  • Magazine
  • Advertising
  • Login
  • Register
No Result
View All Result
LibyaHerald
No Result
View All Result
Home Libya

GNC official spokesperson makes his debut

bySami Zaptia
August 28, 2012
Reading Time: 4 mins read
A A
GNC official spokesperson makes his debut

GNC and NFA member Omar Hmaidan made his debut as the official GNC spokesperson last Sunday

12
SHARES
51
VIEWS
Share on FacebookShare on Twitter

By Sami Zaptia.

Tripoli, 28 August:

GNC and NFA member Omar Hmaidan made his debut as the official GNC spokesperson last Sunday (Photo: S. Zaptia)

 

After weeks of what seemed like an official information vacuum, the General National Congress (GNC) finally elected . . .[restrict]– broadcast live on TV – an official spokesperson last Sunday night.

Mr Omar Hmaidan, GNC member for Zlitan and member of Mahmoud Jibril’s National Forces Alliance (NFA) took a few sentences to get over his press conference debut nerves before clicking into gear.

RELATED POSTS

Derna demonstration calls for holding to account of Derna Mayor and dismissal of parliament

23 flights of international aid from 12 states arrive in Libya within 24 hours – government asks UN to coordinate effort

‘We have postponed the discussion on our internal rules and regulations due to the current situation’, he opened to the gathered members of the press.

Referring to the ‘current situation’ or the Tripoli car bomb incidents on the first day of Eid and the destruction of mosques by Salifists, he informed that the GNC had ‘called in the government yesterday (Saturday 25 August ) for clarifications on the security situation’.

Resigned or not resigned?

By the government spokesperson Hmaidan was referring to the apparently heated closed session debate held with Interior Minister Fawzi Abdelal and as a result of which Abdelal subsequently announced his resignation from his post to the media.

On the matter of the Interior Minister’s resignation, spokesperson Hmaidan insisted that as far as the Prime Minister was concerned, the Minister had as yet to hand-in his official resignation. Hmaidan admitted that the GNC had first heard of the matter via the media.

When pushed further on the resignation matter by the media, Hmaidan conceded that if the Minister should resign, it should not be a major issue as ‘Libya is now a state of institutions and so the resignation of one person should not be a problem’.

The role of the SSC

‘Today’, Hmaidan continued, ‘we sought further clarifications from Prime Minister Al-Kib, as well as the Ministry of Defence and Chief of Staff on the role of the Supreme Security Committee (SSC) as the main instrument of security’.

‘During this debate we were surprised to receive a communication from the SSC expressing their unhappiness at our discussion of them and their role. We saw it as our responsibility to enquire about the security situation and the role of the SSC in it and to hold it accountable to the Libyan public. It should not be taken as insult when the GNC questions any department. That is our role’, he emphasized.

‘We were then informed that a source at the SSC called upon its members to withdraw from their positions – an order that was not officially sanctioned by the appropriate authorities.’

Hmaidan then went on to confirm and emphasize that SSC personnel had not withdrawn from their positions and that anyone who is proved to have given out such unofficial instructions will be held accountable.

When forced by the press to comment directly on the SSC member who had made the withdrawal announcement, the spokesperson said that ‘Ibrahim Sarkasiya should accept responsibility for what he had said during the earlier press conference…that the SSC will withdraw from its positions’.

In a very confused and confusing day, the usual official spokesperson for the SSC, Abdulmenom al-Hur had revealed earlier in the day live on local TV that Sarkasiya ‘had no authority as head of departments to speak officially on behalf of the SSC’, and that the content of his statement did not reflect SSC policy.

Spokesperson Hmaidan then made a point of thanking the SSC for its security work. ‘We compliment the SSC and the role that it has played in the security situation in Libya, but we must also insist on our role to question and hold accountable any executive department’.

The destruction of mosques and heritage sites

Regarding the destruction of mosques and heritage sites carried out by extremists and Salafists, spokesperson Hmaidan said that ‘the GNC supports freedom of thought, but does not support anyone group imposing its views on others. We condemn this action of the destruction of sites’.

Asked what action the GNC and the government will take, the spokesperson said that ‘we will hold those responsible accountable. We respect that they have a different ideology or interpretation, but their actions are against the law’.

Criminalizing the holding of arms?

Asked if the GNC was pushing for the criminalizing of the carrying of arms on the streets except for those authorized security personnel, the spokesperson said that that needed to be part of a wider policy and reconciliation drive.

Will Al-Kib remain as Prime Minister?

Asked if the GNC was inclined to retain the current Prime Minister Al-Kib in his position, the spokesperson said that the GNC had not started to debate the choice of the next PM or government yet.

The Kib government has a caretaker role only

The spokesperson went on to reveal that the GNC had confirmed to PM Kib that his government is to continue in a role as a caretaker government and that it should not initiate new policy.

The trail of Saif Qaddafi?

Asked about the various conflicting stories about the date and place of a possible trail of Saif Qaddafi, spokesperson Hmaidan said that the GNC had not discussed the matter at all.

The GNC’s inability to respond quickly to events on the ground?

Asked about the GNC’s apparent inability to respond quickly to evens on the ground, the spokesperson insisted that until the GNC got its internal house in order by passing its internal rules and regulations, it will not be able to function efficiently.

The spokesperson then called upon the Libyan public to put their trust in the GNC and understand and accept the situation that it finds itself in and is forced to work in

The pro-Qaddafi TV channels broadcasting from Egypt?

Asked about pro-Qaddafi TV channel/s broadcasting from Egypt via Nilesat and what was the GNC’s response to them, spokesperson Hmaidan confirmed that this issue had been discussed in the GNC’s morning session and that Prime Minister Kib had confirmed that discussions with Egyptian Prime Minister Mursy were ongoing.

Drafting the Constitution?

Asked about the deadline for selecting the ‘Committee of 60’ for the drafting the constitution, spokesperson Hmaidan confirmed that the GNC had not started dealing with the matter yet.

 

  [/restrict]

 
Tags: Abdurrahim Al-Kibaccountabilityarmsbombbroadcastingcaretakerchannelschief of staffconstitutionEgyptEidFawzi AbdelalGeneral National CongressGNCinstitutionsmediaminister of interiorministry of defencemosquesMursyNational Forces AllianceNFANilesatOmar Hmaidanpress conferencePrime MinisterresignationresponsiblitySaif QaddafiSalafistsspokespersonSSCstateSupreme Security CommitteeTripoliTV
Share5Tweet3Share1

Related Posts

UNSMIL: Warring parties invited to begin negotiations on 29 September
Libya

UNSMIL head Bathily calls on polarised Libyan political entities to follow their citizen’s lead by unifying post the Derna disaster

September 24, 2023
Libya’s eastern government meets Egyptian companies to discuss post Storm Daniel reconstruction
Libya

Eastern Libyan government calls for international reconstruction conference for Flood Daniel hit areas

September 24, 2023
Al-Ruqaii seizure violates human rights, says Amnesty International
Libya

Eastern Libya authorities must lift restrictions on journalists: Amnesty International

September 22, 2023
Providing psychosocial support to the thousands affected by Storm Daniel is a priority: UN
Libya

Providing psychosocial support to the thousands affected by Storm Daniel is a priority: UN

September 22, 2023
After the Derna dams disaster, dams in Benghazi and Sirte receive attention
Libya

After the Derna dams disaster, dams in Benghazi and Sirte receive attention

September 22, 2023
Minister of Local Government meets German and Italian ambassadors to discuss Flood Daniel aid and reconstruction
Libya

Minister of Local Government meets German and Italian ambassadors to discuss Flood Daniel aid and reconstruction

September 21, 2023
Next Post
Border forces apprehend sheep smugglers – official reports

Border forces apprehend sheep smugglers – official reports

US Government issues new warning against travel to Libya

 

Advertise on LibyaHerald

Reach thousands of our site visitors daily

240 x 400px

Advertise Here
ADVERTISEMENT

Top Stories

  • Derna disaster update: Five Greek aid workers die in road accident, Spanish and Maltese teams return home

    Derna disaster update: Five Greek aid workers die in road accident, Spanish and Maltese teams return home

    97 shares
    Share 39 Tweet 24
  • UN’s Derna overview: Officially, only 3,958 confirmed dead and 40,000 displaced

    71 shares
    Share 33 Tweet 16
  • Attorney General launches investigation into Derna dam failures, as aid continues to arrive by air and sea

    70 shares
    Share 29 Tweet 17
  • Latest UN satellite imagery shows extent of Storm Daniel destruction in Derna

    123 shares
    Share 50 Tweet 31
  • EU Copernicus satellite images of Flood Daniel hit Libya released

    54 shares
    Share 25 Tweet 12
LibyaHerald

The Libya Herald first appeared on 17 February 2012 – the first anniversary of the Libyan Revolution. Since then, it has become a favourite go-to source on news about Libya, for many in Libya and around the world, regularly attracting millions of hits.

Recent News

UNSMIL head Bathily calls on polarised Libyan political entities to follow their citizen’s lead by unifying post the Derna disaster

Eastern Libyan government calls for international reconstruction conference for Flood Daniel hit areas

Sitemap

  • Why subscribe?
  • Terms & Conditions
  • FAQs
  • Copyright & Intellectual Property Rights
  • Subscribe now

Newsletters

    Be the first to know latest important news & events directly to your inbox.

    Sending ...

    By signing up, I agree to our TOS and Privacy Policy.

    © 2022 LibyaHerald - Powered by Sparx Solutions.

    No Result
    View All Result
    • Login
    • Sign Up
    • Cart
    • Libya
    • Business
    • Advertising
    • About us
    • BusinessEye Magazine
    • Letters
    • Features
    • Why subscribe?
    • FAQs
    • Contact

    © 2022 LibyaHerald - Powered by Sparx Solutions.

    Welcome Back!

    Sign In with Facebook
    Sign In with Linked In
    OR

    Login to your account below

    Forgotten Password? Sign Up

    Create New Account!

    Sign Up with Facebook
    Sign Up with Linked In
    OR

    Fill the forms bellow to register

    *By registering into our website, you agree to the Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy.
    All fields are required. Log In

    Retrieve your password

    Please enter your username or email address to reset your password.

    Log In
    This website uses cookies. By continuing to use this website you are giving consent to cookies being used. Visit our Privacy and Cookie Policy.
    Are you sure want to unlock this post?
    Unlock left : 0
    Are you sure want to cancel subscription?