Al-Mishri coordinates with armed groups to attack polling centers, press reports

Khaled Al-Mishri, Chairman of Libya’s High Council of State, is allegedly plotting with armed groups to coercively close a number of polling centers across the country’s western region including in the municipalities of Al-Zawiya, Zliten, Tajoura, Al-Jabal and Souq Al-Juma, Libyan newspaper Al-Marsad reported on Monday.

Citing anonymous sources, Al-Marsad said that Al-Mishri was informed by a “foreign party” that he was named in a draft of sanctions list by the international community against individuals found to be obstructing the elections on December 24.

“He does not want to appear alone in the image of the obstructionist,” sources told Al-Marsad, explaining the motive behind the alleged attack plans.

The newspaper also reported that Al-Mashri was warned by members of his own council that this move might lead to the “division in the country or an armed clashes even within the western region”

“However, he did not care,” the sources said.

It is noteworthy that Al-Mashri publicly threatened to mobilize the western region’s armed groups to violently fight against a presidency of Khalifa Haftar if the latter wins the elections.