{"id":644460,"date":"2019-05-26T10:28:21","date_gmt":"2019-05-26T10:28:21","guid":{"rendered":"
\"FILE<\/p>\n
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\"FILE<\/div>\n

Libyan strongman Khalifa Haftar, who is leading a military offensive against the UN-recognised government in Tripoli, said in an interview published Sunday he will continue fighting until militias in the city laid down their arms.<\/p>\n

Haftar had justified the offensive last month by saying he was fighting against \u201cprivate militias and extremist groups\u201d who he said were gaining influence in the capital under Prime Minister Fayez al-Sarraj.<\/p>\n

\u201cOf course a political solution is the objective,\u201d Haftar told the Journal de Dimanche newspaper in France. \u201cBut to return to politics, we need to finish with the militias.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe problem in Tripoli is a security one.\u201d<\/p>\n

He offered an amnesty to fighters in Tripoli who laid down their arms, saying they would be allowed to \u201creturn home safe and sound.\u201d<\/p>\n

He also took aim at UN mediator Ghassan Salame, who has warned the country is \u201ccommitting suicide\u201d due to a conflict that 6-10 foreign states are involved in.<\/p>\n

\u201cSalame is making irresponsible statements,\u201d Haftar said. \u201cHe wasn\u2019t like that before, he has changed. From an impartial and honest mediator, he has become a biased one.\u201d<\/p>\n

Salame has warned that Haftar\u2019s offensive is \u201cjust the start of a long and bloody war\u201d.<\/p>\n

More than 75,000 people have been driven from their homes in the latest fighting and 510 have been killed, according to the World Health Organization.<\/p>\n

More than 2,400 have also been wounded, while 100,000 people are feared trapped by the clashes raging on the outskirts of Tripoli.<\/p>\n

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