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By Moutaz Ali.
Tripoli, 15 May 2016:
Faiez Serraj’s chosen defence minister Mahdi Al-Barghathi has warned that the country’s political infighting could result . . .[restrict]in civil war or even in the country splitting apart.
Speaking in Benghazi, Barghathi said yesterday that the fighting against IS in Sirte was critical. But it could also divide or unite the country. His speech was a clear attempt to counter those in the east who want to reject the Government of National Accord.
Barghathi, himself from Benghazi, tried to tackle head-on the accusation that the GNA had been imposed on Libya by foreigners. He said that he would never have taken the job if he thought for a minute that Libya would be under international control. He accepted the post as Serraj’s defence minister because he saw it as a chance to unite the country and its army.
Barghathi, the much-admired former commander of the 204 Tank Brigade in Benghazi, also rounded on those who had accused him of cooperation with Islamist military leaders.
“We have never betrayed the blood of our brothers in the army ” he said, “who were killed by Islamist extremists”. [/restrict]
