The Egyptian Foreign Ministry spokesman, Ahmed Abu Zaid, said Cairo rejected the Security Council's presidential statement on Libya, to be issued by on Friday, after publishing a draft of the statement on Thursday.

Abu Zaid stressed in a press statement the rejection of the UN envoy to Libya Abdoulaye Bathily's initiative regarding the formation of a high-level committee from the Libyan parties that would lead to holding elections before the end of this year.

Abu Zaid also said the Security Council's expected statement would increase the state of division and rivalry on the Libyan scene, and undermine the chances of holding presidential and parliamentary elections as soon as possible within the framework of a Libyan national consensus.

He said the Security Council encouraged an initiative in a clear breach of the role of the legitimate and elected Libyan institutions despite welcoming the progress made at the level of the constitutional framework and the 13th amendment to the Constitutional Declaration, and approving the continuation of the role played by the House of Representatives (HoR) and the High Council of State (HCS).

In the draft statement published on Thursday and expected to be issued Friday, the Security Council alluded to the possibility of designating individuals or entities that obstruct elections for sanctions, encouraging the efforts for the formation of a Libyan committee that includes representatives of institutions, political figures, tribal leaders, civil society organizations, security agencies, youth and women, to help put the final touches on the constitutional basis and electoral laws. The statement acknowledged the continuing role of the HoR and the HCS, and their gradual progress in the constitutional framework for elections and the 13th constitutional amendment.

Diplomatic sources confirmed that Egypt's rejection of the UNSC statement came from the UNSC's refusal to support the idea of establishing a new government that would lead Libya to elections as Egypt and other countries supporting Haftar, headed by Russia, wanted.