In a televised speech, the leader of the Libyan National Army (LNA) announced that the General Command of the Armed Forces had “accepted the will of the people” to take over management of the country.
The move apparently marginalises an eastern-based civilian parliament that had until now been backing the military commander.
In his speech, Haftar added that a 2015 deal that produced the UN-recognised Government of National Accord (GNA), a unity administration based in Tripoli that was formed after years of civil conflict, was null and void.
“We announce our acceptance of the people’s will and mandate and the end of the Skhirat Agreement,” he said.
“The political agreement destroyed the country. We will work to create the conditions for building permanent civic institutions.”
