22 January 2015 - The United Nations Support Mission in Libya (UNSMIL) condemns the reported armed attack against the Central Bank branch in Benghazi, a sovereign symbol of the Libyan State.

The Mission believes that the establishment of an independent commission of inquiry will contribute to clarifying the circumstances relating to the incident, and calls on the Libyan sides to cooperate with this commission and with the Libyan Central Bank as well as the relevant judiciary bodies.

This incident and the latest ceasefire breaches demonstrate the importance of moving urgently in the dialogue process. The Mission invites the parties to remain engaged in the process aimed at restoring peace and stability to Libya, putting the high national interest above all other considerations.

The Mission views that forging ahead with the efforts to reach a political agreement to end the fighting and alleviate the suffering that the people have endured for the last six months as the best response to the deteriorating political and security situation in the country.

UNSMIL calls on the parties that unilaterally and willingly announced a ceasefire several days ago to exert extra efforts to ensure that the truce is fully respected, in order to create a conducive environment for the dialogue. The Mission urges the parties to liaise closely with UNSMIL to tackle any breaches that could endanger the ceasefire, and provide immediate clarifications and exchange information regarding incidents.