Migrant camp attack in Libya 'crime against humanity': Ankara

ANKARA-Anadolu Agency

Turkey on July 3 termed Haftar forces' attack on irregular migrants in Libya “crime against humanity," and urged for an international probe.

“The attack, which targeted a center in Tajura district near Tripoli where irregular migrants took refuge and caused the death of tens of innocent people, is a crime against humanity,” Hami Aksoy, spokesman for the Foreign Ministry, said in a written statement.

“An international investigation must be launched immediately to identify the offenders,” Aksoy added, calling for immediate action of the international community.

Libya's UN-recognized Government of National Accord (GNA) on July 3 accused forces loyal to commander Khalifa Haftar of killing irregular migrants staying at a shelter in the capital Tripoli.

Fawzi Unayyis, the GNA's spokesman for the Health Ministry, told Anadolu Agency that fighter jets linked to Haftar struck the shelter and at least 30 migrants were killed.

Unayyis warned the death toll could increase as there were scores of injured.

Al-Mabruk Abdulhafez, a senior migration officer, told a Libyan TV station that there were 120 irregular migrants residing in the facility hit by Haftar's forces.

Meanwhile, Emrullah İşler, Turkey's special envoy to Libya, on July 2 criticized the illegal detention of six Turkish sailors by forces loyal to Haftar.

"These detentions revealed that the groups linked to militia leader Haftar, which has thrown Libya into crisis since May 2014 and has closed all the doors for a political solution since 2016, can be as radical as terrorists," Emrullah İşler told Anadolu Agency.         

İşler's remarks came a day after the sailors were released on June 1.           

Turkish citizens returned to the ship and continue to work at their own will.      

Libya has remained beset by turmoil since 2011 when a bloody NATO-backed uprising led to the ouster and death of long-serving President Muammar Gaddafi after more than four decades in power.

Since then, Libya's stark political divisions have yielded two rival seats of power -- one in Tobruk and another in Tripoli -- and a host of heavily armed militia groups.