CAIRO (AP) — The U.N. special envoy to Libya on Friday met with the country’s east-based military commander as part of efforts to unite rival factions in the war-torn North African nation ahead of elections in December. The election was a major step toward unifying Libya and ending one of the most intractable conflicts left behind by the Arab Spring. For years, Libya’s influential east-based military commander, Khalifa Hifter, has been a controversial figure. This is Kubis’ first visit to Libya since his appointment to the post in January. A day before meeting Hifter, Kubis held talks in Tripoli with the president of the newly elected, three-member presidential council, Mohamed Menefi, and other Libyan politicians.

Source: Libya Today February 19, 2021 19:52 UTC