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UNITED NATIONS, March 20 (Xinhua) -- The UN envoy for Libya on Monday warned of escalating tension across the North African country due to mobilization of forces, worsening security situation in capital, Tripoli, as well as recent violence in Misrata and Benghazi.
Martin Kobler, the special representative of the UN secretary-general for Libya and the head of the UN Support Mission in the country (UNSMIL), urged all parties to unite and to put the country ahead of their "own narrow interests."
At a news conference, Martin Kobler also called on the parties "do not let the agenda be driven by violence on the ground and extremism,"
"Calm must be restored immediately, democratic bodies and ideals must be respected and freedom of speech must be protected," he said.
Last week, the UN Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) had sounded alarm over the situation and had spoken of serious human rights and humanitarian law violations and abuses stemming from recent fighting in the country's eastern oil crescent area, including summary executions and mass detentions.
Such incidents "are completely unacceptable," he said, calling on Libyan institutions to commit to advancing the Libyan Political Agreement (LPA) and swiftly implementing the security arrangements in Tripoli that would provide for the withdrawal of armed groups there and the deployment of army and police.
He also made reference to the Quartet meeting on Libya, held on March 18, which urged the Libyan parties to re-engage in the political process. The Quartet comprises the League of Arab States, the African Union, the European Union as well as the United Nations.
Recalling the international community's strong commitment to the country, Kobler said, "The responsibility, however, lies first and foremost with the Libyans themselves to end this escalating violence."
"All political and security stakeholders in a position to influence their constituencies should act now," he added.
Kobler sponsored peace dialogue sessions between Libya's political rivals for over a year in order to end the state of political division in the country.
Eventually, a peace agreement was signed by the rivals and a new government of national accord was appointed. However, the country still suffers political crisis despite the signed agreement.
Libya, a major oil producer in North Africa, has been witnessing a frayed political process after former leader Muammar Gaddafi was toppled during the 2011 political turmoil, as two rival parliaments and several groups have been fighting for control of national resource wealth.
