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Libya

UNSMIL Condemns Assassination of Former Congress Member Fariha Barkawi, Urges Protection of Civilians

Tripoli, 18 July 2014 - The United Nations Support Mission in Libya (UNSMIL) strongly condemns the assassination of former member of the General National Congress Fariha Barkawi in Derna, in eastern Libya, on Thursday 17 July 2014.

While the Mission deplores the escalating violence in Benghazi and Tripoli causing casualties among civilians and driving families out of their homes, and while it reiterates its call for the cessation of hostilities, UNSMIL is particularly disturbed by the deliberate targeting by assassination of women activists.

Mrs. Barkawi is the second prominent woman to be assassinated in Libya in less than a month. On 25 June 2014, prominent rights and political activist Salwa Boughaigis was shot dead in her Benghazi residence after casting her vote in the country's parliamentary elections.

The United Nations reiterates its call upon all sides to refrain from all kinds of violence and demands that measures be taken to ensure the protection of all civilians during this current armed conflict.