By Libya Herald staff.
Tripoli, 7 January 2015:
The United States has condemned Sunday’s airstrikes on the Greek-operated tanker off Derna by the . . .[restrict]Libyan National Army (LNA) which killed two people.
“We strongly condemn the 4 January bombing of a Greek-operated oil tanker near Derna, Libya, and we extend our sincere condolences to the victims’ families,” said US Department of State Spokesperson Jen Psaki in a statement Tuesday.
Psaki went on to say that escalation of violence in Libya against civilian commercial interests was a threat to the “integrity, unity, neutrality, and independence” of Libya’s critical institutions, such as the National Oil Corporation (NOC).
“The United States remains committed to working with the international community to help the Libyan people establish and inclusive system of government that addresses their core needs, preserves and protects key Libyan institutions, establishes stability and security, and addresses the ongoing threats to Libya’s democratic transition,” Psaki said.
Greece and the former General National Congress (GNC) had already condemned the bombing. The LNA continues to claim that the airstrikes were justified because the tanker had not followed protocol by notifying the necessary authorities of its arrival and submitting to an inspection before entering the port.
LNA Spokesman Colonel Ahmed Mesmari was quoted by the Irish Examiner as having said that the army did, however, regret the loss of life.
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