Libyan renegade general accuses Sudan of aiding “Islamist terrorists”
June 15, 2014 (KHARTOUM) – The retired Libyan general Khalifa Heftar who is leading the military campaign dubbed as ‘Operation Dignity’ against Islamist militias accused Sudan directly of providing aid to these groups.
“Egypt, Tunisia, Algeria, Chad, Mali and Niger and all neighboring countries support us through border control, yet we do not need any military aid from these countries,” he added.
The general stressed that Libyan people back his efforts against “terrorists” vowing to soon “bury” them under their feet.
Heftar also accused Qatar of fuelling Libya’s chaos. “There is no doubt Qatar supports the militias in Libya,” he said.
Last week, spokesperson to Heftar’s forces Colonel Mohamed al-Hejazi, told Cairo-based al-Youm al-Sabe’ newspaper that Sudan is dispatching planes carrying weapon shipments to Libyan Islamists.
He said these weapons have already been delivered to a militia loyal to Abdul Hakim Belhaj adding that Qatar funds these shipments.
But Sudan denied these accusations and its army spokesperson Colonel al-Sawarmi Khalid Sa’ad said that “relations between Sudan and Libya and particularly the military [one] is now at its best and proof is the big military cooperation in the field of training”.
Col. Sa’ad also recalled that Libya and Sudan have joint border forces to combat human traffickers and terrorists.
Heftar’s rise came after he claimed that his forces represent the legitimate Libyan army and has managed to win the support of military units inside Benghazi for his offensive against the jihadists.
The Libyan government, however, accused him of trying to stage a coup but Heftar says that these militias have wreaked havoc in the North African nation.
(ST)