Libya has had two rival governments since August 2014, when rebel groups backed by Islamists overran Tripoli, forcing the internationally recognised government to relocate to Tobruk, in the far east of the country. The Tripoli-based government itself controls not much more territory, and the United Nations has made a few efforts to uniting the two sides into a unity government.
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Leon said in a statement late Thursday following new conflict of interest allegations that he is seeking “a full clarification of the issue”, including from UAE authorities, and reflecting on his future.
The report added that the aim of the arrest was to put pressure on and “to blackmail” the UAE, and the Gulf state would not succumb to any pressures and blackmail.
The revelations also included the alleged offering by the UAE of a $50,000-per-month job to the UN’s envoy to Libya, Benardino Leon.
Bernardino Leon denied that his appointment at the government-funded Emirates Diplomatic Academy had compromised his neutrality, although he told journalists last week that “maybe I could have done things in a different way”.
The emails reported on referred to an Emirates-based company, Morrison Commodities, that violated the arms embargo in Libya, possibly in cooperation with a Saudi firm called Saudi global Military Services.
Local Libyan television stations reported the Libyan Public Prosecutor in Tripoli as saying that the officer was taking part “in an intelligence mission inside Libya”. Under the proposal, a nine-member presidential council, including a prime minister, five deputy prime ministers and three senior ministers, will govern Libya.
Libya has been grappling with violence and political uncertainty since 2011.
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Haq, the United Nations spokesman, told reporters Friday that “the secretary-general has declared his support for the agreement reached by his special representative, Mr. Leon, and he continues to support Mr. Leon’s work”.
