Libya: UN mission condemns terrorist attack against Benghazi demonstration

The United Nations Support Mission in Libya (UNSMIL) today strongly condemned the terrorist attack which targeted a peaceful demonstration in Benghazi, killing and injuring many civilians.

“UNSMIL calls on Libyans to reject violence as a means to settle political differences and stresses that peaceful expression of political views is one of the basic rights in a free society,” said a statement issued by the UN Mission.

The mission also expressed its condolences to the families of the victims and wishes the injured a speedy recovery.

The statement also said that the stability in the eastern city of Benghazi is key to Libya’s overall stability and the latest attack stresses the urgent need to bring peace to the country.

“The shelling of the demonstration in Benghazi serves to show once again that the unending violence is claiming more and more lives, particularly in the city where fighting has raged for over a year and has caused unimaginable suffering to its residents, including displacing more than 100,000 people,” said the statement.

The mission also urged Libyans to set aside their differences, irrespective of their affiliations, and engage in efforts through dialogue to resolve the deepening crisis in the country.

“Their best response to the perpetrators of this ugly crime in Benghazi today is by working together to bring peace to Libya. Only through unity can terrorism be confronted and violence brought to an end,” the statement concluded.

Just two days ago, UN Special Representative for Libya Bernardino León stressed that the effort towards forming a unity government in Libya will continue, emphasizing that while a position had been announced that some parties had not voted for the UN-backed political agreement, “there is no chance for small groups or personalities to hijack this process.”