Libya’s interim prime minister says sanction those who refuse election results

By Shweta Desai

PARIS (AA) - Libya’s interim premier Abdul Hamid Dbeibeh said Friday that participants in the international conference for Libya agreed to sanction those who refuse to accept results of the forthcoming parliamentary and presidential elections.

Dbeibeh was speaking at a news conference at the end of the international dialogue in Paris. The diplomatic initiative was organized by France alongside Libya, Germany, Italy and the UN to provide international support for the continuation of the political transition and for the holding of timely elections.

It was also attended by Libya’s neighbors, regional organizations, US Vice President Kamala Harris and Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov.

Dbeibeh said the conference managed to “reaffirm extremely important points which can pave the way for the organization of elections.”

They include encouraging legislative authorities to amend electoral laws which are consensual for fairness and inclusiveness of elections; holding parliamentary and presidential elections on schedule; guaranteeing electoral operations through political support and international observers and guaranteeing the results of elections be accepted by all and those who might refuse be sanctioned.