UN Special Envoy to Libya, Ghassan Salame, on Wednesday condemned the “indiscriminate’’ shelling in the Libyan capital Tripoli as the UN-backed government and the eastern-based army are fighting for the control of the city.
On Tuesday, residential areas of Tripoli were attacked by shelling of unidentified source, killing, injuring several people as well as destroying homes and properties.
“Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Libya Ghassan Salame condemns in the strongest terms the overnight heavy rocket shelling on the high-density residential neighbourhood of Abu Slim in Tripoli which resulted in scores of civilian deaths and injuries,’’ the UN Support Mission in Libya said in a statement.
“The use of indiscriminate, explosive weapons in civilian areas constitutes a war crime,’’ Salame said.
“Liability for such actions lies not only with the individuals who committed the indiscriminate attacks, but also potentially with those who ordered them,’’ he added.
The statement also urged all parties to fully respect international humanitarian and human rights laws and adopt “all possible measures to protect civilians and civilian infrastructure.’’
Both the government and the army led by Khalifa Haftar exchanged accusations on the shelling.
“It is a savage barbaric attack by the criminal Haftar on the district of Abu Slim and Hai al-Intisar (southern Tripoli). Such an act can only be committed by someone who has no humanity,’’ Libyan Prime Minister Fayez Serraj, said during a visit to the attack site earlier in the day.
Meanwhile, the army accused “terrorist militias controlling the capital’’ of carrying out the shelling, vowing to hold them accountable.
The army has been leading a military campaign since early April to take over western Libya, particularly Tripoli where the UN-backed government is based.
The clashes between the two sides have so far killed and injured hundreds of people, forced thousands of civilians to flee their homes.
Libya has been struggling to make a democratic transition amid insecurity and chaos ever since the fall of former leader Muammar Gaddafi’s regime in 2011. (Xinhua/NAN)
