The commander of the self-styled army in eastern Libya, Khalifa Haftar agreed with the Italian Foreign Minister Angelino Alfano that nothing can replace elections for a better future for Libya, according to Italy's news agency Aki.
Both Haftar and Alfano came to terms Monday in Rome regarding the fact that the upcoming December 17 is the anniversary and not the end of the Libyan Political Agreement signed in Morocco's Skhirat two years ago.
In contradiction to their idol's statements, Haftar's loyalists stormed several polling locations in eastern Libya and tore up the polling registration numbers of each electoral division they encountered, pronouncing Haftar as the sole military leader of Libya without going to elections.
"Election will be held in Libya. It is a train that has a destination but the question is how fast the train will go, meaning how soon the elections will be held in accordance with the UNSMIL's Head plan that sets September 2018 as the final completion date." Alfano said, according to the sources cited by Aki.
Alfano and Haftar also agreed to support Ghassan Salame's efforts, with Haftar wanting the Italian FM to hail his forces' role in defending Libyans against "terrorism" and his own role as a leader amid the current thought-shattered and inactive politicians.
Haftar's visit to Rome is the second as he was there last September meeting several Italian officials including Italy's Defense Minister Roberta Penotti, the Interior Minister Marco Minetti and the Chief of Staff Claudio Graziano.
Haftar - contradictory to his talks with Alfano - announced earlier that the LPA ends on December 17 and afterwards, his forces will take control of the country putting an end to all agreements and their subsequent political bodies; on the condition those bodies would have failed to reach a conclusive solution to Libya's crisis.
