Libyan military leader Khalifa Haftar denied what was published over his intention to lead a military coup against the current ruling authority in his country, expressing his support for the election as the legitimate way to achieve change.

Brigadier General Ahmed al-Mesmari, spokesman for the Libyan National Army, said in a press conference late Wednesday that the security authorities have recordings that prove the cooperation between Qatar and Qaeda. He added that elections, planned for 2018, should be monitored by international observers to ensure integrity. He also said the army will secure polling stations across the country.

Mesmari urged the parliament to accelerate the issuance of the elections law which will introduce citizens to their rights and duties in these elections, stressing that the military institution can’t be ruled but by a “civil elected leadership”.

“We should give the Libyan people the freedom to express themselves through ballot boxes,” Mesmari said, underlining that elections should enjoy transparency and integrity. Further, Fayez al-Sarraj Government of National Accord called on the Italian government to find a mechanism to return Libyan players who are sentenced for 30 years in prison in Rome for accusations of illegal immigration and human trafficking.

In another matter, a source from the National Oil Corporation (NOC) announced putting down a fire that started after exploding a pipeline for transferring crude oil near Marada. Mesmari considered it a terrorist operation, adding that terrorists who fled to the west of the country are being pursued.

He saw that the purpose is to destruct the country’s possessions and create an economic chaos for the sake of prolonging the Libyan crisis duration.

The LNA’s Special Forces Operations Room announced yesterday that they had completed their military operations in the Sidi Khrebiesh area of Benghazi. They also announced that they had gained control over the Al-Balady hotel and its surrounding areas.

The Special Forces Operations Room said that it was continuing with its clearing operations in the surrounding areas. Media reports said that there was resistance from ”extremists” in the battle with the LNA. There are other media reports that 6 ”terrorists” were arrested as they tried to escape the LNA. The LNA also suffered a number of injuries, local Libyan media reported.

It will be noted that the announcement comes nearly five months after the LNA had announced then that Benghazi had been completely liberated from ‘’terror’’ groups.