Former Algerian foreign minister Ramtane Lamamra had been widely-tipped to take over the role from Ghassan Salame. AFP
Former Algerian foreign minister Ramtane Lamamra had been widely-tipped to take over the role from Ghassan Salame. AFP
Former Algerian foreign minister Ramtane Lamamra had been widely-tipped to take over the role from Ghassan Salame. AFP
Former Algerian foreign minister Ramtane Lamamra had been widely-tipped to take over the role from Ghassan Salame. AFP

Former Algerian foreign minister quits bid for UN Libya envoy post


  • English
  • Arabic

Algerian former foreign minister Ramtane Lamamra on Thursday ruled himself out of becoming the next UN envoy to Libya, after diplomats said Washington opposed his nomination.

Mr Lamamra told Algerian press that he had been invited last month by UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres to take the post.

"I gave my agreement in principle but consultations carried out by Mr Guterres since then do not seem likely to result in the unanimity of the Security Council," he said.

Mr Lamamra said he would be calling the Secretary GeneraMr Guterres "in the coming hours" to withdraw his candidacy.

Libya has been mired in chaos since the overthrow in 2011 of long-time dictator Muammar Qaddafi.

The country is divided between the Tripoli-based Government of National Accord and forces loyal to eastern-based Field Marshal Khalifa Haftar, who launched an offensive on the capital and the militias guarding it in April last year.

Diplomatic sources last week revealed that Mr Guterres had already begun searching for a new envoy, after the US refusal to back Mr Lamamra.

The UN's envoy to Libya, Ghassan Salame, quit in early March after the repeated failure of efforts to restore order, although he said his resignation was for health reasons.

Mr Salame had served in the role since June 2017.

Fighting over Tripoli has intensified in recent days despite UN calls for a ceasefire to allow authorities to focus on curbing the spread of the coronavirus.

Libya has so far reported 48 virus cases and one death.

Humanitarian groups have warned that the pandemic could devastate the country, where a decade of conflict has ravaged key infrastructure and created dire medical shortages.

The GNA has announced a 10-day lockdown in the western areas under its control to combat the spread of the virus.

The order for a 24-hour curfew, replacing an existing night-time lockdown, came late on Wednesday and takes effect on Friday.

In the east of the country, Field Marshal Haftar's forces have imposed a 12-hour curfew between 7pm and 7am.

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Thor: Ragnarok

Dir: Taika Waititi

Starring: Chris Hemsworth, Tom Hiddleston, Cate Blanchett, Jeff Goldblum, Mark Ruffalo, Tessa Thompson

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The biog

Age: 19 

Profession: medical student at UAE university 

Favourite book: The Ocean at The End of The Lane by Neil Gaiman

Role model: Parents, followed by Fazza (Shiekh Hamdan bin Mohammed)

Favourite poet: Edger Allen Poe 

What can victims do?

Always use only regulated platforms

Stop all transactions and communication on suspicion

Save all evidence (screenshots, chat logs, transaction IDs)

Report to local authorities

Warn others to prevent further harm

Courtesy: Crystal Intelligence

Leaderboard

64 - Gavin Green (MAL), Graeme McDowell (NIR)

65 - Henrik Stenson (SWE), Sebastian Soderberg (SWE), Adri Arnaus (ESP), Victor Perez (FRA), Jhonattan Vegas (VEN)

66 - Phil Mickelson (USA), Tom Lewis (ENG), Andy Sullivan (ENG), Ross Fisher (ENG), Aaron Rai (ENG), Ryan Fox (NZL)

67 - Dustin Johnson (USA), Sebastian Garcia Rodriguez (ESP), Lucas Herbert (AUS), Francesco Laporta (ITA), Joost Luiten (NED), Soren Kjeldsen (DEN), Marcus Kinhult (SWE)

68 - Alexander Bjork (SWE), Matthieu Pavon (FRA), Adrian Meronk (POL), David Howell (ENG), Christiaan Bezuidenhout (RSA), Fabrizio Zanotti (PAR), Sean Crocker (USA), Scott Hend (AUS), Justin Harding (RSA), Jazz Janewattananond (THA), Shubhankar Sharma (IND), Renato Paratore (ITA)

Who was Alfred Nobel?

The Nobel Prize was created by wealthy Swedish chemist and entrepreneur Alfred Nobel.

  • In his will he dictated that the bulk of his estate should be used to fund "prizes to those who, during the preceding year, have conferred the greatest benefit to humankind".
  • Nobel is best known as the inventor of dynamite, but also wrote poetry and drama and could speak Russian, French, English and German by the age of 17. The five original prize categories reflect the interests closest to his heart.
  • Nobel died in 1896 but it took until 1901, following a legal battle over his will, before the first prizes were awarded.
Mercedes-AMG GT 63 S E Performance: the specs

Engine: 4.0-litre twin-turbo V8 plus rear-mounted electric motor

Power: 843hp at N/A rpm

Torque: 1470Nm N/A rpm

Transmission: 9-speed auto

Fuel consumption: 8.6L/100km

On sale: October to December

Price: From Dh875,000 (estimate)

Living in...

This article is part of a guide on where to live in the UAE. Our reporters will profile some of the country’s most desirable districts, provide an estimate of rental prices and introduce you to some of the residents who call each area home. 

Duterte Harry: Fire and Fury in the Philippines
Jonathan Miller, Scribe Publications

VEZEETA PROFILE

Date started: 2012

Founder: Amir Barsoum

Based: Dubai, UAE

Sector: HealthTech / MedTech

Size: 300 employees

Funding: $22.6 million (as of September 2018)

Investors: Technology Development Fund, Silicon Badia, Beco Capital, Vostok New Ventures, Endeavour Catalyst, Crescent Enterprises’ CE-Ventures, Saudi Technology Ventures and IFC

The specs: 2018 Infiniti QX80

Price: base / as tested: Dh335,000

Engine: 5.6-litre V8

Gearbox: Seven-speed automatic

Power: 400hp @ 5,800rpm

Torque: 560Nm @ 4,000rpm

Fuel economy, combined: 12.1L / 100km

HEY%20MERCEDES%2C%20WHAT%20CAN%20YOU%20DO%20FOR%20ME%3F
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Lowest Test scores

26 - New Zealand v England at Auckland, March 1955

30 - South Africa v England at Port Elizabeth, Feb 1896

30 - South Africa v England at Birmingham, June 1924

35 - South Africa v England at Cape Town, April 1899

36 - South Africa v Australia at Melbourne, Feb. 1932

36 - Australia v England at Birmingham, May 1902

36 - India v Australia at Adelaide, Dec. 2020

38 - Ireland v England at Lord's, July 2019

42 - New Zealand v Australia in Wellington, March 1946

42 - Australia v England in Sydney, Feb. 1888