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| Chief of Libya's new UN-backed government arrives in Tripoli | Chief of Libya's new UN-backed government arrives in Tripoli |
| (about 4 hours later) | |
| The chief of Libya’s new UN-backed government has reached Tripoli, defying threats from city militias, to proclaim a new order for the conflict-ravaged country in a move that could eventually pave the way for international forces to provide troops and air support. | The chief of Libya’s new UN-backed government has reached Tripoli, defying threats from city militias, to proclaim a new order for the conflict-ravaged country in a move that could eventually pave the way for international forces to provide troops and air support. |
| Since Libya’s airspace had been closed by the existing Tripoli-based authorities, the prime minister designate, Fayez Sarraj, and seven members of the presidential council travelled from Tunisia by sea to the city’s Abusita naval base. | Since Libya’s airspace had been closed by the existing Tripoli-based authorities, the prime minister designate, Fayez Sarraj, and seven members of the presidential council travelled from Tunisia by sea to the city’s Abusita naval base. |
| Sarraj is expected to call for outside help to train a new Libyan army and launch airstrikes against Islamic State bases in the country. | Sarraj is expected to call for outside help to train a new Libyan army and launch airstrikes against Islamic State bases in the country. |
| Sarraj told Reuters the council members had travelled in a Libyan navy vessel from the Tunisian port of Sfax, 12 hours away. | |
| “There are challenges ahead of us, including uniting Libyans and healing divisions,” he said after arriving. He later made a brief statement saying the government would release a programme in the coming days. | |
| “We will work for a ceasefire across Libya, for national reconciliation and the return of displaced people, and we will seek to confront Islamic State,” he said. | |
| Western powers have recognised Sarraj’s government of national accord as Libya’s only legitimate government, but it faces opposition from both of the country’s existing regimes – the Tripoli-based General National Congress (GNC) and the elected House of Representatives in eastern Libya – and Sarraj may flounder without western support. | Western powers have recognised Sarraj’s government of national accord as Libya’s only legitimate government, but it faces opposition from both of the country’s existing regimes – the Tripoli-based General National Congress (GNC) and the elected House of Representatives in eastern Libya – and Sarraj may flounder without western support. |
| Related: Pressure mounts on Cameron to answer MPs' questions on Libya | Related: Pressure mounts on Cameron to answer MPs' questions on Libya |
| Late on Wednesday gunmen stormed the headquarters of a Libyan television station that is close to the unrecognised authorities in control of Tripoli. | |
| Armed men burst into the headquarters of satellite TV station al-Nabaa in central Tripoli, cut its transmissions and forced out its staff, according to two journalists from the channel. | |
| One Al-Nabaa journalist said the gunmen appeared to be supporters of the UN-backed unity government. “A group of armed men, some of them in fatigues and some in civilian clothing, stormed our offices and gathered the employees in one room,” a staff member told AFP. A colleague said broadcasting had been suspended, adding that no one had been hurt. | |
| The British foreign secretary, Philip Hammond, said the UK would “stand ready to respond positively to requests for support and assistance” from Sarraj, reigniting controversy over whether Britain will send troops to the strife-torn country. | The British foreign secretary, Philip Hammond, said the UK would “stand ready to respond positively to requests for support and assistance” from Sarraj, reigniting controversy over whether Britain will send troops to the strife-torn country. |
| Crispin Blunt MP, chairman of the foreign affairs select committee, earlier this month accused the government of planning to deploy up to 1,000 troops as part of a coalition training and assistance mission to Libya, which was denied by officials. | Crispin Blunt MP, chairman of the foreign affairs select committee, earlier this month accused the government of planning to deploy up to 1,000 troops as part of a coalition training and assistance mission to Libya, which was denied by officials. |
| Blunt has called on the government to present any deployment plans to parliament amid anxiety about the UK being sucked into a new Middle Eastern conflict. | Blunt has called on the government to present any deployment plans to parliament amid anxiety about the UK being sucked into a new Middle Eastern conflict. |
| Guma el-Gamaty, a member of Libya Dialogue, the UN-chaired body that created the new government, said Sarraj was expected to ask for help to bomb Isis and train Libyan units, but ruled out the use of foreign troops in a combat role. “The new government may ask for logistics support, for training, but not for troops,” he said. “There may be selective airstrikes [against Isis] but the ground fighting will be conducted by Libyans.” | Guma el-Gamaty, a member of Libya Dialogue, the UN-chaired body that created the new government, said Sarraj was expected to ask for help to bomb Isis and train Libyan units, but ruled out the use of foreign troops in a combat role. “The new government may ask for logistics support, for training, but not for troops,” he said. “There may be selective airstrikes [against Isis] but the ground fighting will be conducted by Libyans.” |
| Related: UN warns Isis is strengthening hold in Libya with 'nationalistic narrative' | Related: UN warns Isis is strengthening hold in Libya with 'nationalistic narrative' |
| Hammond welcomed Sarraj’s presence in Tripoli, saying: “The arrival of the presidency council in the capital of Libya is an important step towards the establishment of an effective government of national accord.” | Hammond welcomed Sarraj’s presence in Tripoli, saying: “The arrival of the presidency council in the capital of Libya is an important step towards the establishment of an effective government of national accord.” |
| Sarraj faces a trial of strength with the GNC, which earlier this week warned him not to travel to the capital, where there has been several nights of militia skirmishes. | Sarraj faces a trial of strength with the GNC, which earlier this week warned him not to travel to the capital, where there has been several nights of militia skirmishes. |
| For the moment, Sarraj is guarded by naval personnel and militias from Misrata, which are among the most powerful formations in Libya. | For the moment, Sarraj is guarded by naval personnel and militias from Misrata, which are among the most powerful formations in Libya. |
| An indication of the complexities facing the new government came hours after it arrived, when gunfire broke out from a nearby base of another Misrata militia opposed to it. | An indication of the complexities facing the new government came hours after it arrived, when gunfire broke out from a nearby base of another Misrata militia opposed to it. |
| The EU foreign policy chief, Federica Mogherini, appealed for Libyans to work with Sarraj: “The arrival of the presidency council in the capital represents a unique opportunity for Libyans from all factions to reunite and reconcile,” he said. | The EU foreign policy chief, Federica Mogherini, appealed for Libyans to work with Sarraj: “The arrival of the presidency council in the capital represents a unique opportunity for Libyans from all factions to reunite and reconcile,” he said. |
| The EU has offered a €100m aid package, and the US Libya envoy, Jonathan Winer, said Washington stood ready to help. | The EU has offered a €100m aid package, and the US Libya envoy, Jonathan Winer, said Washington stood ready to help. |
| US ready to support incoming GNA with humanitarian, economic, security support, as are others - #Libya needs to get beyond curent crisis. | US ready to support incoming GNA with humanitarian, economic, security support, as are others - #Libya needs to get beyond curent crisis. |
| Sarraj faces a complex challenge in persuading Libyans to accept a government that has weak legitimacy in the eyes of critics, having been appointed by Libya Dialogue without an election process. | Sarraj faces a complex challenge in persuading Libyans to accept a government that has weak legitimacy in the eyes of critics, having been appointed by Libya Dialogue without an election process. |
| El-Gamaty said most Libyans would welcome the new government with the promise to end a 20-month civil war. “People are absolutely sick of it; they can’t take any more. Banks have no money, bread is expensive, people are scared, there is so much insecurity.” | El-Gamaty said most Libyans would welcome the new government with the promise to end a 20-month civil war. “People are absolutely sick of it; they can’t take any more. Banks have no money, bread is expensive, people are scared, there is so much insecurity.” |
| Western officials hope Sarraj can unite Libya’s two warring governments as the precursor to joint action against Isis, which controls 120 miles of coastline around the city of Sirte, and tackle migrant smuggling. Italy has offered up to 3,000 troops to train Libyan forces, provided other western powers also help. | Western officials hope Sarraj can unite Libya’s two warring governments as the precursor to joint action against Isis, which controls 120 miles of coastline around the city of Sirte, and tackle migrant smuggling. Italy has offered up to 3,000 troops to train Libyan forces, provided other western powers also help. |
| Analysts say Sarraj’s immediate job is gaining control of Tripoli: “The big task is to gain a consensus and end the armed conflict,” said Abdul Rahman AlAgeli, a non-resident fellow of the Atlantic Council. “That’s before we even think about governance.” | Analysts say Sarraj’s immediate job is gaining control of Tripoli: “The big task is to gain a consensus and end the armed conflict,” said Abdul Rahman AlAgeli, a non-resident fellow of the Atlantic Council. “That’s before we even think about governance.” |