* Erdogan on surprise visit to Tunisia* Erdogan, Saied discussed cooperation for Libya ceasefire* Turkey signed maritime, military agreements with Libya (Recasts with Erdogan comments, adds detail)By Tuvan Gumrukcu and Ali KucukgocmenANKARA, Dec 25 (Reuters) - Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan paid a surprise visit to Tunisia on Wednesday to discuss cooperation for a possible ceasefire in neighbouring Libya, where Ankara supports the internationally recognised government. Erdogan, speaking at a joint news conference with Tunisia's President Kais Saied, also reaffirmed Ankara's willingness to send troops to Libya if it received such a request. Turkey backs Fayez al-Serraj's Government of National Accord (GNA), which has been fending off a months-long offensive by Khalifa Haftar's forces in eastern Libya. Erdogan, the first head of state to visit Tunis since Saied's landslide election win in October, said the developments in Libya were having a negative impact on neighbouring states, including Tunisia. On Tuesday Erdogan's spokesman Ibrahim Kalin said Turkey's parliament was working on a draft bill that would allow troop deployment to Libya.

Source: Libya Today December 25, 2019 14:26 UTC