The UN Support Mission in Libya (UNSMIL) on Thursday said that at least eight mass graves were discovered recently in western Libya. The graves were found in the area recently seized by the unity government after forces loyal to eastern strongman Khalifa Haftar withdrew, as per an AFP report.
“UNSMIL notes with horror reports on the discovery of at least eight mass graves in past days, the majority of them in Tarhuna,” the UN mission said in a statement on Twitter.
“International law requires that the authorities conduct prompt, effective & transparent investigations into all alleged cases of unlawful deaths,” it added.
Several bodies were found and exhumed by the Libyan Red Crescent for identification on Wednesday.
According to the director of Tarhuna's public hospital, Aburawi al-Buzeidi, 160 bodies were discovered in the morgue by GNA forces upon their arrival in the city.
The bodies “were transferred to Tripoli and Misrata by the Red Crescent,” he said but did not reveal more details.
As of now, it is unclear who is responsible for these mass graves.
The eastern-based Haftar’s forces had been using Tarhuna as a rear base for a year-long offensive to seize the capital from the unity government.
Hundreds have lost their lives and 200,000 have fled ever since April when Pro-Haftar forces backed by Russia, Egypt and UAE have been battling to gain control of the place
The Libyan ministry will form a committee to investigate the graves, identify victims, find out the cause of death and hand over bodies to the families.
The US, EU and other foreign powers have called for a ceasefire following Haftar's losses in Tripoli. This month, Haftar’s forces abandoned their remaining positions in the southern suburbs to advancing government troops.
GNA has vowed to push on for Sirte, Kadhafi's hometown and the last major settlement before the traditional boundary between western Libya and Haftar's stronghold in the east.
The UN-recognised GNA is backed by Turkey.
