Derna Shura Council has refused a request from Defense Minister-designate of UN-proposed government Mihdi Baraghati to meet them, the council said on Wednesday.

In a statement, the council explained that its refusal to meet Baraghati was based on the city's recent signed charter, in which they vowed not to plunge the city into any political conflict.

"Baraghati wanted to meet the council's leaders in his capacity as defense minister of Sirraj government," the statement reads.

It's not clear what message is Baraghati trying to convey. Both Baraghati and Derna Shura Council are foes to Dignity Operation and its leader Khalifa Haftar.