WorldPARIS, AFP -France will host an international meeting on strife-ridden Libya next week featuring several countries in the region including Egypt and Gulf states, the French government's spokesman said. Foreign Minister Jean-Marc Ayrault told a cabinet meeting the gathering would bring together countries including Egypt, Qatar, the United Arab Emirates and Turkey “to see how we can advance the cause of achieving the necessary unity in Libya”, spokesman Stephane Le Foll said. Libyan prime minister-designate Fayez al-Sarraj held talks with President Francois Hollande in Paris on Tuesday. Sarraj's fragile unity government, formed in March following a UN-backed deal in December 2015, is backed by the international community. Libya has Africa's largest oil reserves, estimated at 48 billion barrels, but production and exports have slumped dramatically after years of crisis.

Source: Sunday Times September 28, 2016 11:48 UTC