By Libya Herald staff.
Tripoli, 19 March 2015:
Bombing of airports and other vital infrastructure threatens to undermine dialogue efforts and risks further . . .[restrict]escalating tensions in Libya, UNSMIL said in back-to-back statements released yesterday and today.
The statements condemned recent air strikes on Zintan’s airport and today’s strike on Mitiga Airport, pronouncing them to be “reckless” acts. Today’s strike prevented participants from flying to Morocco for the dialogue meetings which were due to take place today.
UN Special Envoy Bernardino Leon said the attacks “represent a deliberate attempt to undermine efforts to find a political solution to the Libyan conflict through dialogue.”
UNSMIL urged that all sides refrain from reciprocal attacks and called for an end to attacks on infrastructure and civilian targets. They also asked that political leaders ensure that military forces operating under their control stop these kinds of attacks.
They called leaders in Libya to concentrate on fighting the common enemy of terrorist groups rather than continuing to engage in activities that lead to military escalation. The hope is that attempts to derail the dialogue process would “strengthen the resolve” of all involved in the process to “forge ahead with a strong send of national responsibility, and a spirit of openness, reconciliation and determination to reach a political agreement.” [/restrict]
