Libyan news reports stated that Maiteeg held the first meeting with some of his ministers at the prime minister’s office in Tripoli after he managed to enter with the help of an armed group that supports the parliament. Addressing his ministers, he underlined that his government’s priority was to organize the scheduled elections on June 25 and to fight terrorism and extremism. He also noted that the task of fighting terrorism “is the government’s responsibility, not the responsibility of individuals who do not have legal competence or legitimacy.” Moreover, he considered that leaving the matters in the hands of someone other than the state’s institutions would only “worsen the crisis in Libya.”
In an attempt to respond to the accusations of his opponents, who soon condemned the move — with MP Zaynab al-Targi referring to “Maiteeg’s occupation of the prime minister’s office” — Maiteeg confirmed that officially taking office was in response to the request of the parliament and Sahmain who asked him in an official speech to handle the tasks to save the country from chaos.
On another note, defector Maj. Gen. Khalifa Hifter, the leader of the “Operation Dignity” battle against the command of the parliament, announced that he would proceed with his military campaign. Hifter launched “Operation Dignity” against the parliament for supporting the Muslim Brotherhood in Libya and its allied militant groups that are affiliated with political Islam movements.
He also said he plans for the battle to last between three months and a whole year, at most. He clarified, while addressing the Egyptian media, that he is counting on the help of “his Egyptian fellows,” and he also confirmed that his battle “in Libya is a continuation of the Egyptian battle against terrorism, and is a fight on behalf of the world against terrorism.”
