Photo: Reuters
PANA
Tripoli, Libya- Last week’s abduction of Libyan Prime Minister Ali Zeidan is further evidence of the weakness of the Libyan state and its security and military institutions, the head of the UN Support Mission in Libya (UNSMIL), Tarek Mitri, has said.
Speaking in an interview with the UN Radio, monitored by PANA here, Mr. Mitri, who is also the Special Representative of the UN Secretary General in Libya, said immediately the mission was informed of the Premier’s abduction, the UN mission established contact with all government and non-governmental officials as well as the leaders of the ex-rebels in an effort to seek a joint solution to the action, which endangered the life of not only Mr. Zeidan but also the peace in Libya.
He expressed the belief that the incident will raise the awareness among Libyans on the risk of seeing their country slide into anarchy.
The UN diplomat also said there must be a consensus around national priorities and rules to define the activities of armed groups in order to avoid chaos, pending their reintegration into state security institutions.
He said the abductors of the Prime Minister apparently underestimated the risk posed to the Libyan state by the action, hence the need to convince all those who could put pressure on them to do so, in order for them to retrace their steps.
Mr. Mitri assured that the UN mission would help Libyans to establish democratic institutions, as requested by them.
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