Germany to host Libya peace conference on Sunday

BERLIN (AA) - Germany Tuesday invited Libya’s warring parties, as well as global and regional powers to a peace conference in Berlin on Sunday to facilitate a political solution to the Libya conflict.

Chancellor Angela Merkel’s office announced that Libya’s UN-recognized government, the eastern Libya-based commander Khalifa Haftar, and leaders from eleven countries, including Russia, Turkey, Italy, Egypt and United Arab Emirates (UAE), were invited to the conference.

The announcement came following Russia-hosted talks late Monday for Libyan peace.

But talks for a permanent cease-fire deal ended without an agreement on Monday after Haftar left Moscow demanding two days to consult with local Libyan tribes for their approval, while the head of Libya's Government of National Accord (GNA) Fayez al-Sarraj signed the cease-fire deal.

On Jan. 12, the warring sides of the Libyan conflict announced a cease-fire in response to a call by Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Russian President Vladimir Putin.

Since the ouster of late ruler Muammar Gaddafi in 2011, two seats of power have emerged in Libya: one in eastern Libya supported mainly by Egypt and the United Arab Emirates, and the other in Tripoli, which enjoys UN and international recognition.

In April, Haftar launched an offensive to capture Tripoli which has drawn international condemnation.

According to the UN, more than 1,000 people have been killed since the start of the operation and more than 5,000 others injured.