Libya: Warlord Haftar meets Russian defense minister

By Elena Teslova

MOSCOW (AA) - Russia's Defense Minister Sergey Shoygu held a meeting with eastern Libyan-based general Khalifa Haftar, the country's Defense Ministry announced Wednesday.

The sides stressed the importance of earlier intra-Libyan talks held last month in Moscow with Russian-Turkish mediation, the ministry said in a statement.

"The important role of the talks held on Jan. 13 this year in Moscow to establish a cease-fire and start the process of normalizing the situation in the country was noted and the need to implement the decisions of the Berlin conference on Libya was confirmed," it said.

Since the ouster of late ruler Muammar Gaddafi in 2011, two seats of power have emerged in Libya: Haftar in eastern Libya supported mainly by Egypt and the UAE, and the Government of National Accord in Tripoli, which enjoys UN and international recognition.

Libya's legitimate government has been under attack by Haftar's forces since last April, and more than 1,000 people have been killed in the violence.

On Jan. 12, the conflict parties announced a cease-fire in response to a joint call by the Turkish and Russian leaders.

On Feb.19, Libya's UN-recognized government said forces loyal to Haftar killed three civilians and injured five more in the two missile attacks at Tripoli port.