Libyan eastern commander Khalifa Haftar, speaking with French President Emmanuel Macron, ruled out a ceasefire and said he wanted to rid Tripoli of militias “infesting” the UN-backed government, a French presidential official said. Macron and French officials have for weeks repeated official support for the GNA and call for an unconditional ceasefire. “When the ceasefire question was put on the table, Haftar’s reaction was to ask: ‘negotiate with who for a ceasefire today?’” the official said. The official said Macron had asked Haftar to make a public step towards a ceasefire and Haftar responded by saying that an inclusive political dialogue was necessary and he would be ready for it if the conditions for a ceasefire were in place. However, the official said Haftar had given no indication as to when he would be ready for any potential talks.

Source: Libya Today May 23, 2019 10:48 UTC