The military chief of Libya’s UN-recognised government has expressed doubt about UN-backed talks in Morocco aimed at ending the country’s political split and said that he is “betting on a military solution” if a deal remains elusive.
General Khalifa Haftar’s comments in a TV interview on Tuesday underscored the obstacles to any agreement between rival governments in Libya.
Haftar, who commands forces loyal to the Tobruk government, separately told the Associated Press news agency that he does not oppose negotiations outright.
He said he would abide by decisions of his government, but said it was not clear how the political rivals could reach a deal.
He would not agree to any ceasefire with armed groups, he said.
“Then the military solution is a must because it is decisive ... when we are forced to, when we see our homeland torn apart as it is happening now, between militias and terrorists, we resort to a military solution. We are betting on the military solution,” Haftar said.
Haftar said he believes his forces could win such a battle even though they currently control only a small area of Libya and no major cities.