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Media Dwells on Sarkozy, Not France's Alleged Role in Libyan Intervention

© Sputnik / Andrey Stenin / Go to the mediabankThe picture of Muammar Gaddafi being burned
The picture of Muammar Gaddafi being burned - Sputnik International
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In light of recent revelations by a Lebanese businessman on his contribution to the 2007 election campaign of Nicolas Sarkozy, the press prefers to discuss the former French President's chances, not France's ambiguous role in the Libyan campaign, expert Helene Bravin told Sputnik France.

French soldiers of the Barkhane operation stand near the border with Lybia in Madama on January 1, 2015 - Sputnik International
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Earlier this week, Lebanese businessman Ziad Takieddine said that he delivered some five million euros (about $5.36 million) from Libya's long-standing leader Muammar Gaddafi to contribute to the 2007 election campaign of the former French President Nicolas Sarkozy.

With these revelations continuing to grab the headlines, both politicians and the press prefer to focus on Sarkozy's chances rather than France's ambiguous role in the Libyan campaign, according to expert Helene Bravin.

The allegations of France's involvement in Libya's civil war were first made by Le Monde, leading to the French government launching a criminal probe against the publication for revealing "state secrets."

© REUTERS / Esam Omran Al-FetoriLibyan forces loyal to eastern commander Khalifa Haftar ride a pickup truck at the Zueitina oil terminal in Zueitina, west of Benghazi, Libya. file photo
Libyan forces loyal to eastern commander Khalifa Haftar ride a pickup truck at the Zueitina oil terminal in Zueitina, west of Benghazi, Libya. file photo  - Sputnik International
Libyan forces loyal to eastern commander Khalifa Haftar ride a pickup truck at the Zueitina oil terminal in Zueitina, west of Benghazi, Libya. file photo

Helene Bravin is an expert of the European Institute of Forecasting and Safety; she is also author of the book titled "Gaddafi, the dictator's life and death."

In an interview with Sputnik France, she said that "no one is looking for those responsible for the overthrow of Gaddafi," and that "there was an international intervention approved by the United Nations and implemented by NATO which led to Gaddafi's ouster.

"The intervention causes protests amid questions whether they planned to topple the Gaddafi regime. This is a contentious issue which is yet to be discussed. If Libya remains in chaos, I think some forces will oppose [the investigation]," she said.

France's military presence in Libya continues, she added, quoting Le Monde as saying that the country's special forces are allegedly due to attack Daesh (ISIL/ISIS) commanders in the near future.

"This information is widely commented upon. Le Monde made it clear that French forces are involved in Libya but what does it mean? Does this mean that they support the Libyan general Haftar or there is the French presence in Libya purely about intelligence gathering?" Bravin said.

Libyan security forces stands guard in Benghazi, Libya (File) - Sputnik International
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According to her, after WikiLeaks revelations that Hillary Clinton considered the killing of Muammar Gaddafi and a coup in Libya as a preface to her presidential race, as well as recent publications about the alleged financing of Sarkozy's election campaign, the media continues to pay more attention to the Libyan crisis' implications in the West rather than "the source of this distress signal."

Libya is currently split between the Government of National Accord (GNA) in Tripoli and the Tobruk-based parliament, who have both been fighting parallel campaigns against Daesh and other jihadist groups.

Tensions in the country have been on edge since Tobruk forces captured several oil ports from the GNA-aligned groups last month, amid fears violence could spill over in the country.

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