The UN’s Libya envoy said Monday that military and maritime agreements signed between Turkey and the Tripoli government represent an “escalation” of the conflict in the North African country. Ghassan Salame’s remarks came as Egypt called for an urgent meeting on Tuesday of the Cairo-based Arab League to discuss “developments in Libya and the possibility of an escalation” there. Libya has been mired in conflict since a NATO-backed uprising toppled and killed dictator Moamer Kadhafi in 2011, with rival administrations in the east and the west vying for power. Speaking to French daily Le Monde, the UN envoy said the agreements signed between Ankara and the GNA represent “a clear escalation of the conflict” in Libya. “We have seen mercenaries from several nationalities, including Russians, arrive (in Libya) to support Haftar’s forces in Tripoli,” he said.

Source: The Hindu December 30, 2019 18:11 UTC