'Haftar taking 2 days to talk Libya truce with tribes'

By Elena Teslova

MOSCOW (AA) - The commander of forces in eastern Libya left Moscow without signing onto a cease-fire as he needs two days to consult with local Libyan tribes for their approval, said Russia on Tuesday.

"The commander of the Libyan National Army (LNA), Marshal Khalifa Haftar, welcomed the final [cease-fire] statement, but is taking two days to discuss the document with the leaders of the LNA-supporting tribes before signing it," Russia’s Defense Ministry said in a statement.

Haftar left the meeting in Moscow after Fayez al-Sarraj, the head of Libya's Government of National Accord (GNA), signed the deal but Haftar himself did not sign after being given overnight to consider it.

On Monday, the sides in the Libyan conflict gathered in the Russian capital to discuss a cease-fire meant to end the hostilities in Libya and start a political dialogue.

The ministry also touted the reaching of an agreement to establish and indefinitely continue the cessation of hostilities as "the principle result of the meeting," saying it will create "a more favorable background" for a Jan. 19 Berlin conference on Libya.

"During the talks, the participants confirmed their commitment to the sovereignty, independence, unity and territorial integrity of the state,” it said. “The focus on the uncompromising fight against international terrorism was stressed."

On Jan. 12, the warring sides of the Libyan conflict announced a cease-fire in response to the call of 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.