By Farah Waleed.
Benghazi, 20 July 2014:
As it attempts to defuse the current crisis, the outgoing General National Congress . . .[restrict](GNC) has said it rejects on principle the prospect of foreign intervention.
In a statement published this afternoon Congress stressed the critical importance of dialogue in resolving the current impasse. It said the Libyan people had expressed their democratic right through the ballot box and this decision had to be respected.
The GNC said the safeguarding of the revolution was the responsibility of what it referred to as “military and civil revolutionaries”. It called on these forces, which it said had toppled the former regime, to protect the Libyan people and the state.
Congress, soon to be replaced by the House of Representatives, said it was preparing to hand over power to the new legislature despite the difficult circumstances. It called on all Libyans to unite in the face of current challenges and secure the country.
Congress also asked the government to show how much money had been spent on rebuilding the army and the police. It said the proper functioning of these institutions was the concern of all Libyans.
The results of elections last month to the new House of Representatives are set to be announced tomorrow. The transfer of power from the deeply unpopular GNC to the new parliament is set to take place over the coming days and weeks.
Five days ago the government said it was considering requesting a foreign intervention in Libya.
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