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Officials and workers of the Libyan Handling and Ground Services Company, southern Libyan branch, have condemned a recently-issued decision by the Interim Government of Abdullah Thanni in east Libya. The condemnation came in reaction to the payment of salaries to the company's employees at the eastern region’s airports, excluding those employees of airports in the southern region. The workers called on the House of Representatives to intervene and address their situation.
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The head of the Public Services Company in Derna, Talal Henshir, warned of what could be an imminent environmental and health disaster in the city due to garbage pile-up. Henshir stated that garbage accumulation in the city was resulted by the company's inability to secure fuel and operating materials, in addition to machinery spare parts, due to Dignity Operation’s siege, which will eventually lead to a disaster. Henshir appealed to the Ministry of Local Government to stand with the company until some positive results to provide services to local residents are reached. A protest held by the residents of Derna on Thursday called on the UN Humanitarian Coordinator for Libya, Maria Ribeiro, and the World Health Organization to immediately intervene to save the city from an anticipated humanitarian catastrophe.
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The Foreign Minister of the Presidential Council, Mohamed Sayala, has called on his Tunisian counterpart Khamis Jahnawi to address the problem of Libyan families being abused in the Tunisian town of Ben Gardane. According to the Libyan News Agency, Sayala said in a telephone conversation with Jahnawi that Libya is exercising its legitimate right to tackle the smuggling of fuel outside its borders in an effort to protect the finances of the Libyan people. Jahnawi promised to intervene on the matter in appreciation of the distinguished relations between the two countries. Many Libyan families have complained about the harsh treatment they received in Ben Gardane in reaction to Libyan authorities’ crackdown on fuel smuggling into Tunisia.
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The head of the Russian contact group on Libya, Lev Dengov, has said that the Vice President of the Presidential Council, Ahmed Maiteeq, who is currently visiting Russia, has not discussed or requested any military assistance from Russian authorities to Libya. Dengov made a statement on Friday, according to the Russian news agency Sputnik, that discussions did not involve any arms deals as there is an arms embargo on Libya and Russia is committed to its international obligations.
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The UN special envoy to Libya, Ghassan Salameh, has stated that the Secretary-General of the United Nations will address the heads of state during a meeting on Libya on the 20th of September, on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly. The address will focus on a plan of action to amend the Libyan Political Agreement (LPA) that begins through a number of necessary transition stages and ending in nationwide elections.
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The spokesman of the Libyan Navy, Brigadier General Ayoub Qasim, said on Friday that another unit of the Libyan Coast Guard will be sent to Italy next Sunday to train and raise their efficiency. Qasim added in a press statement that the unit, consisting of 87 Coast Guard personnel, including 36 officers, will receive training in the city of Turin and that the mission is part of the second batch of training, which was stated in the memorandum of understanding signed between Libya and Italy.
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The National Oil Corporation (NOC) announced that it had conducted an oil spill exercise to combat oil leaks at the offshore Al-Jurf oil field. The NOC stated on their official website that the exercise was carried out by Mabrouk Petroleum Operations Company in charge of the field in conjunction with Zawiyah Oil Refining Company and Mellitah Oil Company. The exercise is a first of its kind and the aim is to collectively combat second level leaks, which cause pollution to the sea environment.
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Tripoli Security Directorate confirmed in a statement on Thursday that it stands by the right of peaceful demonstrations according to the law, but warned against certain parties’ attempts in exploiting this right. The Directorate demanded that citizens be notified of the demonstrations in advance in accordance with Libyan legislation, and called on the committee organizing any demonstration to submit a notice to the Directorate that includes the place and time of the demonstration to preserve public order. The statement comes in response to the Libyan businessman Basit Igtet’s intention to stage a demonstration on the 25th of September to claim power. Igtet indicated that Tripoli Security Directorate should be responsible for security at his planned demonstration.
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The Libyan national football team has advanced on FIFA's monthly ranking to 81. FIFA published on its official website, last Thursday, that the Libyan team had progressed ahead of its previous ranking, which was 83rd internationally, while maintaining their African rank of 19th, and advancing to the 8th place after being 9th in the Arab rankings.
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The Libyan Coast Guard has seized a Panamanian-flagged vessel loaded with smuggled building materials. The ship was caught smuggling 2073 tons of sand and gravel without the permission of the official authorities of the Libyan state. The Coast Guard patrols captured the vessel approximately fifty miles off Zuwara coast, near Al-Bouri oil field, after it had been traced from the port of Zuwara, where the smuggled shipment was loaded. A Coast Guard spokesman said that the ship's crew consisted of eight in total, five from Albania and three from Montenegro.
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