By Libya Herald staff.
Tripoli, 26 October 2015:
In a further call for national reconciliation, Sheikh Sadik Al-Ghariani, still recognised in much of . . .[restrict]western and south Libya as the country’s Grand Mufti but not in the east, has said that his the real concern is the division of the country. However, he insisted that it had to be the General National Congress that should take the lead in any comprehensive reconciliation.
He also warned against allowing anyone linked to the Qaddafi regime having any involvement in the running of the country.
In a statement, Ghariani said the best means of achieving reconciliation was “getting rid of passiveness” and everyone who loved Libya working together.
In this case, “passiveness” meant doing nothing when Qaddafi-era personalities were trying to return to power. He claimed that Warshefana Military Council leader Omar Tantoush, was among them.
Tantoush, who was appointed to lead the local militias west of Tripoli that are supported by the Libyan National Army (LNA), was heavily reprimanded by the LNA’s Tripoli Operations Room chief Colonel Idris Madi last week for his involvement in the controversial militias’ meeting at Taweela just over a week ago which he chaired and at which support for the Qaddafi era was openly expressed.
Opposing the UNSMIL deal, which he previously described it as “just ink on paper”, Ghariani in this latest statement said that Libyans had more right than the international community to talk about their own national reconciliation. He also dismissed threats of international sanctions on Libya.
The international community has repeatedly warned that those who try to block the UN-brokered Dialogue deals would be sanctioned. Ghariani is said to figure highly on the list. [/restrict]
