Libyan strongman Khalifa Haftar, who is leading a military offensive against the UN-recognised government in Tripoli, rejects a ceasefire requested by French President Emmanuel Macron during talks in Paris, an Elysee official says. President Emmanuel Macron and Libyan commander Khalifa Haftar, together in 2017. "The distrust we see between the Libyan actors is stronger than ever today," said the official after the meeting between Macron and Haftar in Paris. "When the question of the ceasefire was put on the table, Haftar's reaction to this was to ask: "negotiate with whom for a ceasefire today?" Political dialogueThe 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.

Source: Libya Today May 22, 2019 18:56 UTC