GNA Deputy PM asks US to exert more diplomatic efforts to deter intervention in Libya

Maiteeq visited the US on Friday and held talks with State Department officials and lawmakers.

“Prior to coming here, there were a lot of rumors about the US not supporting our government, adding that he is coming back home with a different message, which is that the US is standing by GNA as the legitimate government of Libya,” he told reporters.

A State Department official told AFP that the United States wanted Haftar’s “self-styled Libyan National Army and the Government of National Accord led by Prime Minister Fayez Al-Sarraj to seek a political solution in the country.”

The official added to AFP, on condition of anonymity, that the US is “consulting with a broad range of Libyan leaders, as well as our international partners, to press for stabilization and bring Al-Sarraj and Haftar back to the negotiating table.”

Meanwhile, Maiteeq said he was asking the United States to use its influence to end international support for Haftar, who is also backed by Egypt and Saudi Arabia.

“We are not seeking any financial or military support from the US. We need strong diplomatic assistance and leadership. The US has a lot of friends and allies in the region, and these friends and allies are interfering in Libyan internal affairs heavily and strongly,” he explained.

Maiteeq said Libyans want the US to send a clear message to these (intervening) countries that they should stay out of Libya.