Moscow, Russia | AFP | Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov on Monday backed the efforts of Libya’s military commander Khalifa Haftar and his rival UN-backed Prime Minister Fayez al-Sarraj to reach a peace agreement in the conflict-ridden country. “We actively support the emerging trend to step up the process of …
Read More »Italy applauds Libya’s decision on migrant ‘search and rescue’ zone
Rome, Italy | AFP | The Italian government on Sunday welcomed Libya’s decision to bar foreign vessels from a stretch of water off its coast, a move that has prompted almost all international charities to halt migrant search and rescue operations in the area. The comments from Italian Foreign Minister Angelino …
Read More »Cash crisis pushes Libyans to virtual payments
Benghazi, Libya | AFP | When a cash crisis struck the war-torn North African country of Libya, many people were forced to queue for days to withdraw their savings. But electronic payments systems set up to tackle the dearth of cash have struggled to gain credibility amid accusations of abuse. Said …
Read More »Haftar’s Libya expels 12 Sudan diplomats
Benghazi, Libya | AFP | Authorities in eastern Libya backed by military strongman Khalifa Haftar on Thursday ordered the closure of a Sudanese consulate and the expulsion of 12 diplomats, a pro-Haftar news agency announced. It said the order to shut down the mission in Kufra, an oasis in southern …
Read More »Libya’s NOC sees 1.25 mln bpd oil output by year-end
Benghazi, Libya | AFP | The head of Libya’s National Oil Company announced on Wednesday that oil production is expected to reach 1.25 million barrels per day by the end of 21017. NOC president Mustafa Sanalla said, however, that “despite a surge of more than one million bpd” oil production would …
Read More »Rival Libyan forces battle east of Tripoli
Tripoli, Libya | AFP | Forces loyal to Libya’s UN-backed Government of National Accord on Sunday battled rival forces in the Garabulli region east of the capital, witnesses said, drawing condemnation from the UN. Witnesses said the fighting pitted pro-GNA forces against fighters loyal to former prime minister Khalifa Ghweil …
Read More »Beachgoers killed, flights halted by clashes at Libya airport
Tripoli, Libya | AFP | Stray fire from fighting between armed groups that control Libya’s Mitiga airport killed five people at a nearby beach and forced the suspension of flights on Wednesday, authorities said. The clashes broke out Tuesday between the groups at Mitiga, a former military airbase east of …
Read More »Macron in Morocco to discuss Libya, Qatar
Rabat, Morocco | AFP | French President Emmanuel Macron was in Morocco Wednesday on a 24-hour visit for talks on battling terrorism as well as the Libyan conflict and Qatar’s dispute with its Gulf neighbours. As he stepped off the plane for his first visit to Morocco since his election …
Read More »ICC calls for ‘immediate arrest’ of Gaddafi’s son Seif al-Islam
The Hague, Netherlands | AFP | The International Criminal Court chief’s prosecutor Wednesday called for the “immediate arrest and surrender” of Moamer Kadhafi’s son Seif al-Islam, who was reportedly set free by a militia in Libya. An arrest warrant issued by the Hague-based ICC against Seif in 2011 “remains valid …
Read More »Seif al-Islam Gaddafi’s ‘release’ divides a Libya seeking a unifier
‘Freed’ Kadhafi son still wanted by Libya court: prosecutor Tripoli, Libya | AFP | Libyan authorities said Monday that Moamer Kadhafi’s son Seif al-Islam, reportedly set free by a militia at the weekend, was still wanted by a Tripoli court for a 2015 conviction. Seif al-Islam, the second son and …
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