Libya army command 'loyal' to constitutional legitimacy

Libya's army command on Monday reiterated its commitment to "constitutional legitimacy" and the ideals of the country's February 2011 revolution, which ended in the ouster and death of longtime dictator Muammar Gaddafi.

The army command denounced what it called "terrorist acts" committed by some affiliates of the army against the citizenry, saying it was working – in tandem with Libya's "real revolutionaries" – to stamp out terrorism.

In a statement, the army added that it was closely following the bloody events taking place in several Libyan cities and was doing its best to stop the violence.

The army command went on to note that ongoing rifts between the Libyan people were being exploited by what it called "terrorists" and "coup-makers."  

The command, however, did not specify who it was referring to in this regard.

The tempo of violence in Libya has picked up further since Friday, when forces loyal to renegade army general Khalifa Haftar clashed with a faction of former revolutionaries that now serves as part of Libya's regular army in the eastern city of Benghazi.

The fighting left some 75 people dead and 141 injured.

Sunday brought a new twist, however, when militants also loyal to Haftar attacked parliament headquarters in capital Tripoli, forcing lawmakers to flee the building in fear for their lives.

Later Sunday, Mukhtar Fernana, commander of Libya's military police, made an appearance in a recorded video to announce the suspension of the interim parliament.

Since then, the army has vowed to bring to justice any army officers who sought to "turn against" Libya's legislative authorities.

Libya government proposes parliament recess to solve crisis

The Libyan government on Monday proposed that parliament go into recess until holding fresh parliamentary elections, in an effort to stave off crisis in the Arab country.

In a written initiative to parliament speaker Nouri Abosahmain, the government suggested holding a public parliamentary session to elect a new prime minister.

If the parliament failed to elect a premier, the parliament should go into recess until holding fresh parliamentary elections in August, according to the initiative.

Under the proposal, the government pledged to form a ministerial panel to communicate with militias in an effort to reach national consensus on refraining from resorting to force.