- Title: Libya's government congratulates Donald Trump.
- Date: 9th November 2016
- Summary: TRIPOLI, LIBYA (NOVEMBER 9, 2016) (REUTERS) TRIPOLI'S MARTYR SQUARE LIBYAN FLAGS OVER BUILDING TRAFFIC ON ONE OF TRIPOLI STREET COLUMNS IN MARTYR SQUARE VARIOUS OF ENTRANCE TO MARTYR SQUARE MARKET LIBYAN FLAGS SEEN INSIDE MARKET (SOUNDBITE) (Arabic) LIBYAN CITIZEN, HUSSEIN ABDELSALAM, SAYING: "He's against Arabs and he doesn't like Muslims at all. This will be bad for Arabs, and if he continues this way, we and the whole Arab world are in trouble. Honestly, I do not support him." MORE OF TRAFFIC ON ONE OF TRIPOLI STREET VARIOUS OF BUILDING IN MARTYR SQUARE (SOUNDBITE) (Arabic) LIBYAN CITIZEN, NASSER BEN NAGY, SAYING: "I believe that America's new president, Trump, will help Libya more than anyone can imagine because we already know (Hillary) Clinton and the Democrats' policy on Libya, they know no bounds. But with (Trump) 1+1 equals 2. I believe that things in Libya will change for the better in a very short period of time." PEOPLE WALKING THROUGH MARTYR SQUARE VARIOUS OF FAMILIES STANDING AMONGST PIGEONS IN SQUARE VARIOUS OF MOSQUE MARTYR SQUARE (SOUNDBITE) (Arabic) LIBYAN CITIZEN, SALEM ABDULLAH, SAYING: "Politically, for Libya, Trump's success will take Libya back to its natural state." VARIOUS OF ASHRAF AL-THOLTHY, LIBYAN GOVERNMENT OF NATIONAL ACCORD SPOKESPERSON SEATING IN OFFICE AL-THOLTHY WRITING (SOUNDBITE) (Arabic) LIBYAN GOVERNMENT OF NATIONAL ACCORD SPOKESPERSON, ASHRAF AL-THOLTHY, SAYING: "Fayez Al-Seraj and the members of the Government of National Accord, congratulate Mr. Donald Trump for his victory in the U.S. elections, and express our best wishes for the success and progress of the new administration." LOGO ON WALL READING (English and Arabic): "GOVERNMENT OF NATIONAL ACCORD" (SOUNDBITE) (Arabic) LIBYAN GOVERNMENT OF NATIONAL ACCORD SPOKESPERSON, ASHRAF AL-THOLTHY, SAYING: "We would also like to take this opportunity to stress on the importance of our country's strategic relationship and appreciation for the political and military support presented to the Libyan government and people, for the stability in our country." VARIOUS OF LIBYAN FLAGS HANGING ABOVE STREET
- Embargoed: 24th November 2016 15:21
- Keywords: U.S. elections Donald Trump Libya reaction
- Location: TRIPOLI, LIBYA
- City: TRIPOLI, LIBYA
- Country: USA
- Topics: Government/Politics,Elections/Voting
- Reuters ID: LVA00157Q78EF
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text: Libya's U.N.-backed government congratulated Donald Trump on his U.S. election victory on Wednesday (November 9) and said they hoped to continue political and military cooperation.
Since the fall of dictator Muammar Gaddafi in a 2011 uprising, Libya has been beset by factional fighting among brigades of ex-rebels who battled him and then turned on each other.
The government backed by the U.N. has failed to unify factions and Western powers are alarmed about resistance to Prime Minister Fayez al-Seraj and his Government of National Accord (GNA) from the country's eastern military commander General Khalifa Haftar, who has blocked a parliamentary vote to endorse the U.N.-backed authorities.
The United States has helped with air strikes in Sirte and given political backing to the GNA.
The Pentagon said on Monday (November 7) the United States is prepared to carry out more air strikes against Islamic State militants in Sirte if requested by Libya's U.N.-backed government, even though the militant group no longer controls much territory there.
But not everyone welcomed the Trump victory.
One man, Hussein Abdel Salam said Trump's hate for Muslims and Arabs could pose problems to the region.
"He's against Arabs and he doesn't like Muslims at all. This will be bad for Arabs, and if he continues this way, we and the whole Arab world are in trouble. Honestly I do not support him," he said.
Two other side-effects of Libya's disorder are of major concern abroad - an uncontrolled flow towards Europe of migrants setting off in boats from Libya's lawless shores where people-smugglers operate, and an infiltration of Islamic State militants who now hold some territory along Libya's Mediterranean coast.
But another Libyan man, Nasser Ben Nagy believes Trump's presidency will help stabilise the situation in Libya.
"I believe that America's new president, Trump, will help Libya more than anyone can imagine because we already know [Hilary] Clinton and the democrats policy on Libya, they know no bounds. But with (Trump) 1+1 equals 2. I believe that things in Libya will change for the better in a very short period of time," he said.
The battle in Sirte has been aided by U.S. airstrikes and a small group of ground troops since August. The battle has reduced Islamic State territory in their former North African stronghold to the size of a soccer field, according to the United States' special envoy to the coalition against Islamic State, Brett McGurk. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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