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Libya still cut off from foreign banks, ousted main banker says

Libya's reserve bank, at the centre of a weekslong crisis that has actually slashed oil output, stays cut off from the global monetary system, its seasoned governor who was removed by political factions in a. objected to relocation informed Reuters on Thursday.

Sadiq al-Kabir, speaking from self-imposed exile in. Istanbul, stated the Central Bank of Libya (CBL) board designated. by western Libyan factions to change him controls the country's. internal payments system however foreign banks are not handling. it.

All worldwide banks that we deal with, more than 30. significant international organizations, have suspended all. deals, he said, adding that he likewise remained in contact. with other organizations including the International Monetary. Fund, the U.S. Treasury and JPMorgan.

All work has been suspended at the worldwide level. Therefore, there is no access to balances or deposits outside. Libya, he stated.

The U.S. Treasury did not instantly respond to requests. for comment. JPMorgan decreased to comment, stating it could not. talk about customer relationships.

An IMF spokesperson said the fund was closely following. advancements on the Reserve bank of Libya's management which. it supports the United Nations Assistance Mission in Libya's. efforts to reach a contract to end the standoff.

Kabir stated the board designated by the western factions had,. nevertheless, gained control over Libya's internal deals. systems, including wage payments.

The internal part, the workers have actually returned and the. systems are working, he said.

The contested board designated by Presidency Council head. Mohammed al-Menfi last month has said it has approved letters of. credit in dollars and euros to a number of companies and has. previously rejected that foreign banks are not handling it.

Kabir hopes to be reinstated as governor through U.N.-backed. negotiations between the House of Representatives parliament in. eastern Libya and the High State Council (HSC) based in Tripoli. in the west, to resolve the crisis.

He stated he is in touch with both the parliament and the HSC,. but not with Menfi or Prime Minister Abdulhamid al-Dbeibah.

Both the parliament and HSC have opposed Menfi's sacking of. Kabir, stating it breached a 2015 contract backed by the. global neighborhood that forms the legal basis for Libyan. politics.

The U.N.-backed talks are targeted at establishing a mechanism. for appointing the central bank governor and for managing a. brief interim duration.

According to contacts with the parliament and the High. State Council, both are insistent on executing the laws in. force and the political contract. This implicitly indicates the. inescapable return of the governor, he said.

While the parliament and HSC both opposed Menfi's termination. of Kabir, the 2 bodies have actually been lined up with competing forces for. most of the past decade and may find it difficult to settle on a. long-lasting service, analysts say.

(source: Reuters)