Head of Libya’s High Council of State Abdulrahman Sewehli indirectly called for a US mediation with Libyan National Army (LNA) commander Field Marshal Khalifa Haftar. An aide close to Haftar however denied the claims. Lambasting Haftar, Sewehli explained that the mediation would be necessary to rein in those “thwarting the political process and those benefiting from the ongoing status quo.” “Time and circumstances no longer leave space for disruption. There is a need to return to the Libyan people in the event of the failure of parties in tasks entrusted to them,” primarily the upcoming elections, he added. Sewehli made his remarks after revealing that he had held talks in Tunisia on Friday with US Charge d’Affaires in Libya Stephanie Williams. LNA Spokesman Ahmed al-Mesmari denied on Saturday that any such meeting had taken place. He told Asharq Al-Awsat that Sewehli had no right to hold a meeting with US officials in the Tunisian capital, saying that promoters of such claims aim to disrupt affairs in Libya. However, he stressed that meetings aimed at uniting the Libyan military establishment will resume in Cairo soon in order to come up with a final agreement, which will be sponsored by Egyptian authorities. Mesmari denied that there was a dispute over Haftar’s leadership, declaring: “Since the very first meeting, we have agreed that he is the commander-in-chief.” The Cairo talks are now focused on the political crisis, he continued. “Egypt is sponsoring the dialogue on this matter,” he explained. Mesmari played down recent military appointments and promotions made Government of National Accord Prime Minister Fayez al-Sarraj. “We do not want to take a step backward, and look at the illegal presidential scribbles challenging efforts for unifying the Libyan military establishment.”