Khalifa Haftar's sons, Saddam and Belgasim Haftar, have dropped their surname "Haftar" from their family's civil registry at the Libyan National Identification Number System.

The surname "Haftar" was replaced with "Omar" so the two would be called from now on Saddam and Belgasim Khalifa BelgasimOmar.

This move has been deplored by the Libyan Interior Ministry of the Presidential Council's government as Minister Fathi Bashagha ordered investigations into this surname change.

The media office of the Interior Ministry said Tuesday that the investigation will disclose the identities of those who allowed the surname change take place.

"According to our sources and intelligence, the two Haftar sons intended to obtain the citizenship of Cyprus for a sum of money, which they would invest in there." The statement said.

The statement indicated that the change of the surname aims to take out "Haftar" from the passport that would be issued as per the National ID Number so they could get away from criminal or financial monitoring abroad.

Saddam Haftar is accused by the UN Security Council's Panel of Experts on Libya of robbing all of the money inside the Central Bank of Libya in the eastern region, the statement remarked.

It adds that the Interior Ministry hereby informs the local and international public opinion as well as embassies and the UNSMIL of this "surname change", reiterating the need to end impunity and to bring criminals to justice.