Speaker of Libyan east-based Parliament says no political solution in Libya till Tripoli is liberated

The Speaker of the Tobruk-based House of Representatives (HoR) Aquila Saleh said there will be no political process and dialogue in Libya until Khalifa Haftar’s forces “liberate Tripoli,” saying “the campaign to liberate Tripoli is not easy”.

“More than two million Libyans are living in the capital and these armed groups are using people and buildings as shields,” Saleh told Reuters in an interview during a visit to Cairo late on Wednesday.

HoR Speaker also said that Haftar’s forces were refraining from using heavy weapons to limit damage to property.

“The army could have carried out a powerful operation and used all kinds of weapons but these are Libyans and we will save any drop of blood, no matter what.” Saleh told Reuters.

Saleh also rejected any proposals for Haftar’s  forces to withdraw or agree to a ceasefire.

“The operation must be resolved. The political solution should in any case come even after the liberation of the Libyan capital,” Saleh explained.

He told Reuters that if someone could get Tripoli “armed groups” out peacefully, then the army would return to the barracks.