France has offered to host next week Libyan political protagonists for talks in order to bridge drifts between UN-backed Government of National Accord (GNA) and rival forces opposed to its authority. Paris, through this diplomatic initiative, hopes to advance efforts to unite divided Libyans, says Stephane Le Foll, a French government spokesman. Egypt, Qatar, the United Arab Emirates and Turkey, seen as important influencers in the Libyan political mayhem, will also be in attendance. The French leader hailed the Libyan Premier for his efforts to expand the unity government to other members in a reconciliation move. Holland also welcomed GNA forces’ campaign to weed out the Islamic State group from Sirte.

Source: The North Africa Journal September 29, 2016 14:48 UTC