Libya’s House of Representatives on Saturday voted unanimously to refer the head the Government of National Accord (GNA) Fayez Al-Sarraj, and his foreign minister to the prosecution over accusation of “high treason.”
The parliament refused to ratify the two agreements signed by Turkey and the GNA on 27 November 2019 to establish new maritime borders between the two countries and increase security cooperation.
The Libyan lawmakers also voted to cut relations with Turkey and shut down the embassies in the two countries.
Earlier, the parliament called for an urgent session to address the consequences of “Turkish blatant interference into Libyan affairs.”
In the meantime, Khalifa Haftar, the commander of the Libyan Arab Armed Forces (LAAF), declared general mobilisation to fend off any Turkish military interference in Libya.
Haftar said during a televised speech on Friday that the LAAF declared confrontation, adding that every free Libyan, whether women or men, military officer or civilian has to take arms to defend “our lands and honour.”
“The enemy (Turkey) is mobilising its troops to invade Libya. It found traitors who sign an agreement of submissiveness, humiliation and shame which has no constitutional, popular or ethical bases,” Haftar said.
On Thursday, Turkey parliament approved a bill that will allow the government to deploy troops to Libya in support of the GNA.
Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis, Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, and Cyprus President Nicos Anastasiades denounced in a joint statement the Turkish parliament decree.
The three countries warned on Friday that Turkey deployment of troops to Libya marks “a dangerous escalation”.
“This decision constitutes a gross violation of the UNSC resolution, imposing an arms embargo in Libya and seriously undermines the international community’s efforts to find a peaceful, political solution to the Libyan conflict,” the statement read.
The statement came a day after the three countries signed an agreement for the construction of EastMed pipeline.
The project, which will be completed in 2025, aims to export gas from Israel to Europe and is expected to satisfy about 10% of the natural gas needs of the European Union.
Egypt on Thursday warned against of foreign interference in Libya, saying it “complicates the situation in the eastern Mediterranean region.”
In the meantime, President Abdel Fattah Al-Sisi chaired the National Security Council on Thursday to evaluate the Turkish foreign intervention in Libya and determine necessary actions to counter any national security threats.
