Khalifa Haftar said he still wants to run for Libyan presidential elections and rejects any constitutional basis that prevents military leaders from candidacy.

Haftar said in a speech on his visit Monday to Ajdabiya city that those who demand disallowing military figures from participating in elections express their weakness in politics, adding that they fear that their ballot boxes will remain empty while the boxes of their military competitors will be filled with votes.

He called for the need to leave the choice to the people and their votes, saying that those clinging to power are not part of the military institution, and stressing that the temporary solutions led by politicians have proven useless, as they are a waste of time and effort, and they can only contribute to the worsening of crises.

Haftar indicated that what he described as the armed militias' control of Tripoli and the center of the supreme executive authority for years led to the failure of all efforts to resolve the Libyan crisis, vowing to take a decisive decision to manage their affairs, build their institutions, and employ their natural resources for their benefit, adding that the institutions of the state have become fragile entities under the grip of armed groups. He also explained that in this case, the position of the armed forces will only be supportive and protective of the people in their choices.

In the meantime, Haftar failed to mention all the wars his forces fought in the east, south, and west of the country and ventured to say that the current situation has hindered building the future of the Libyan state. He called for respect for the aspirations of the Libyan people for freedom and dignity, in addition to siding with the interests of the country above all other considerations.