The Government of Malta has denied charges it is interfering in Libyan internal affairs.

The claim was made at a press conference held at the Libyan embasy in Attard this morning.

A statement by the Maltese Foreign Ministry said that as already declared in the past, the Maltese government has never interfered in Libyan internal affairs, nor will it do so.

It aded that the government's behaviour these past months and weeks has been in total conformity and guided by the principles and line of action as recommended by the United Nations and the EU in these delicate circumstances.

Over the past weeks and months, the Maltese government has been trying to strengthen dialogue in Libya and to lead towards a transitional government that will lead towards peace based on the Constitution that is still being written.

The Maltese government remains committed to a united Libyan people enjoying peace.

The Maltese government has always considered the Libyan people as one people and is sad to see this fighting within the neighbouring country.

In a statement to this newsroom, the man who claims to be the real representative of the real Libyan government said the man occupying the embassy at Attard is doing so illegally.

The new head of the Libyan Embassy in Malta and Charge d'Affairs of the Libyan internationally-recognised government (Tobruk), Al-Habib Al-Amin, said: "I have also been asked to let you know that the man currently occupying the Embassy, Mr Misurati is doing so illegally as it is Mr Al-Habib Al-Amin [who is] the legal representative of the legitimate  government."

But at a press conference held at the Libyan embassy in Attard this morning, Hussain Musrati (or Misurati) Libya's acting Charge d'Affaires in Malta claimed that Malta is siding with one side of the Libyan conflict and is not being neutral. 

The acting Chargé d'Affaires at the Libya Embassy in Malta accused the Maltese government of interfering in Libyan affairs by accepting the appointment by the Thinni government of former culture minister Habib Al-Amin as Libya's ambassador to Malta.

The Thinni government was illegal because of the 6 November decision by the Supreme Court which nullified the House of Representatives and therefore all its decisions were illegal, Hussin Musrati said. He has been acting Chargé for since 20 November.

He claimed that Malta is supporting Mr Al-Amin who was appointed by the Libyan Parliament which has now been dissolved. In doing so, Mr Misrati said, Malta is not respecting the verdict of the Libyan Constitutional Court and this has created a serious precedent.

Speaking at a press conference this morning, Mr Musrati said that the Supreme Court's ruling had to be accepted.

"We respect the rule of law and once there has been a decision by the Supreme Court it has to be respected," he insisted.

He said that he was shocked by Malta's decision to accept Al-Amin, appointed last month. Malta must remain neutral in the Libyan crisis, he insisted. He had asked Foreign Affairs Minister George Vella for a meeting but had not yet had a response.

"The Maltese government has been for a very long time encouraging dialogue in Libya, which is what the Salvation Government is also doing... We have to respect the verdict of the judiciary because if the judiciary falls, the entire country will fall too...

"Respect for the rule of law is the only way that we can build a democracy."

Although Habib Al-Amin had not taken up the post - he has been in Tunisia where a close member of his family was reported to have been having an operation - Mr Musrati said that he had managed to take over the embassy's bank accounts and vehicles. This was theft, he said, and a complaint had been lodged with the Maltese police.

Mr Misrati further attacked Bank of Valletta which, he claimed, has alloweed unauthorised persons to take control over the embassy's bank accounts. A court action will be lodged against the bank.

Mr Musrati said that Omar Al-Hassi's "National Salvation Government" was in contact with several European and African states and would be recognised by them shortly as Libya's legitimate government. 

The Salvation Government was currently in control of the area from Sidra Port on the east to the border of Tunisia and from the coastline in Tripoli all the way to the south. It was also in control of airport and military bases, he said.

The Central Bank of Libya was also working with Hassi's government, he said.

Saddek Elkaber, sacked as the Central Bank's governor by the HoR but still recognised by the Hassi administration, is now largely based in Malta.