Libyan officials dismiss secret plans to appoint Haftar as interim president

Libyan sources have dismissed reports claiming that the country's parliament was preparing to appoint Khalifa Haftar, the commander of the Libyan National Army (LNA), as interim president.

The reports suggested that the Libyan legislature was set to make the move following a series of secret meetings in Cairo. However, sources within the parliament and close to Haftar quickly denied the claims, Caliber.Az reports per foreign media.

According to the reports, members of parliament (MPs) from western Libya were opposed to the proposed appointment of Haftar, raising doubts about the viability of such a decision. However, neither the parliament nor its spokesperson has publicly commented on the matter.

Haftar himself has refrained from addressing the rumors directly. However, a figure close to him described the reports as "just a rumor created by parties that don’t want stability in the country," further dismissing the idea as unfounded.

A source within the Libyan parliament confirmed that no invitation has been extended to MPs for any session where such a vote might take place, underscoring the lack of any formal movement towards Haftar's potential appointment.

The developments come amid ongoing political tensions and struggles for power in Libya, which has been divided between rival factions since the 2011 NATO-backed ousting of former leader Muammar Gaddafi. The situation remains fluid, with various local and international players vying for influence in the country’s future political structure.

By Vafa Guliyeva