By Sami Zaptia
Tripoli, 4 February 2014:
Speaking at yesterday’s press conference, Prime Minister Ali Zeidan denied categorically the claim by French . . .[restrict]newspaper Le Figaro that US forces were present and training in the Southern desert of Libya.
Moreover, he also denied the report’s claim that their alleged presence in Libya was with the acquiescence of the Libyan government.
Zeidan said that he can assure the Libyan public that there are no foreign troops in any part of Libya with the agreement of the Libyan government, nor had the Libyan government agreed with any foreign forces to strike at any targets in Libya.
These rumours are totally unfounded, Zeidan insisted.
The Prime Minister also added that if Libya needed foreign troops, the process would be followed through the knowledge of the public and through the cabinet and the GNC.
Zeidan insisted that the government was here to implement the will of the people and for the protection of the freedom of the people and the sovereignty of the nation.
The government is not here to charge foreigners or (foreign) nations to strike militarily at its citizens, he insisted.
With regards to the “pockets” of insurgents in the south of Libya, Libya used its own forces to solve these problems in negotiations with the citizens there, Zeidan explained. [/restrict]
