Libya unity government looks to assert authority

tripoli — Libya’s unity government was trying to assert its authority in Tripoli on Thursday after the new prime minister-designate’s sudden arrival in the capital sparked tensions.

Fayez Al Sarraj’s arrival at a naval base on Wednesday drew fury from the militia-backed authority in charge of Tripoli, which demanded he leave or surrender.

Gunmen stormed the headquarters of a Libyan television station late on Wednesday, apparently in support of the new government, but the capital appeared calm early on Thursday.

Banks and shops were open, police were posted on the streets and flights had resumed at Metiga airport after being suspended on Wednesday “for security reasons”.

“The reactions have been better than we hoped for. The situation is good,” an adviser to Sarraj said.

After spending the night at the

Those who entered illegally and secretly must surrender or turn back

Khalifa Ghweil, head of Tripoli forces

naval base, Sarraj was planning several visits around the capital on Thursday, his adviser said.

The new government’s arrival had been hailed by the international community as a crucial step in restoring order to Libya.

Formed under a power-sharing deal agreed in December, the unity government is meant to take over from rival groups running the country. Libya has had two administrations since mid-2014 when the militia alliance overran Tripoli, setting up its own authority and forcing the internationally recognised parliament to flee to the country’s remote east.

Sarraj is facing an uphill battle. Both of the rival administrations have so far refused to cede power and it was unclear how his new government would go about establishing its authority.

After arriving on Wednesday with a naval escort along with several members of his cabinet, Sarraj said he would make “reconciliation and the settlement of security and economic crises” his top priorities.

The Tripoli government insisted he leave the capital or “hand himself in”. “Those who entered illegally and secretly must surrender or turn back,” the head of the Tripoli authorities, Khalifa Ghweil, said in a televised address. “We won’t leave Tripoli as long as we are not sure of the fate of our homeland.”

Cracks of gunfire were heard around the capital on Wednesday and the armed men seized control of the Al Nabaa satellite TV station in the city centre, cutting transmissions and forcing out staff.