The Speaker of the Libyan Parliament, Ageela Saleh denounced the barring of MP’s from travelling to Benghazi, to participate in a scheduled Parliamentary session.
“The authorities of the outgoing Government of National Unity (GNU) headed by Abdel-Hamid Dbaiba, is controlling the ground in the capital Tripoli. This act disrupts the Parliament’s work and prevents it from carrying out its duties, to achieve stability in the country,” Saleh said in a statement on Monday.
“We are facing a dangerous precedent that threatens the unity of the country, and constitutes a crime of restricting the freedom of citizens and abuse of power,” he added.
The Speaker explained that “this is clear evidence that Tripoli has been controlled by armed groups supported by the expired government.”
Saleh demanded that the Attorney General investigate the incident, issue a statement on the results of the investigation, and refer the accused to trial. He also urged MP’s to attend the sessions to take “decisive decisions in the interest of the country.”
The special session, which was scheduled to take place on Monday was rescheduled. This was after authorities in Tripoli prevented a number of MP’s from leaving Mitiga Airport for Benghazi.
The Parliament was supposed to discuss the High Council of State’s (HCS) letter regarding the nomination of the Head of the Supreme Court’s General Assembly. As well as several draft laws listed on the Parliament’s agenda.
Saleh nullified the 2015 appointment of Mohamed Al-Hafi as Head of the Court. This was due to it being issued by the Court’s General Assembly, after the end of Al-Hafi’s term, and not by the Parliament itself.
His decision also stipulated transferring the seat of the Supreme Court sessions to the city of Al-Bayda temporarily. It noted that the “Court’s convening at a location other than its legal seat is incorrect, and as a result, the measures it has taken are invalid.”
Last month, Supreme Court chancellors took their legal oaths before the Presidency of the Libyan Parliament, in the presence of Saleh.