Turkey raises concern over tension in Libya

By Erdogan Cagatay Zontur

ANKARA (AA) - Turkish Foreign ministry raised concern over the tension in Libya with a statement on Sunday.

"There has been a great deal of concern over the dangerous escalation in Libya as a result of a military operation against Tripoli," the ministry said.

"Such attempts will not only serve to the detriment of the civilian population and the instability of the country, but will also hamper the political process under UN facilitation," the statement added.

The ministry also called for defusing the tension and bringing peacefulness in the region. It also backed UN’s support to return to the political peace process.

On April 14, a UN-sponsored “national dialogue” conference will be held in the western city of Ghadames with the ostensible aim of hammering out a political “roadmap” for the country’s future.

On Thursday, Khalifa Haftar, commander of forces loyal to East Libya-based government, launched a military campaign to recapture Tripoli from UN-backed Government of National Accord forces.

Libya has remained beset by turmoil since 2011, when a NATO-backed uprising led to the ouster and death of President Muammar Gaddafi after four decades in power.

Since then, the country’s stark political divisions have yielded two rival seats of power: one in the eastern city of Al-Bayda, to which Haftar is linked, and another in Tripoli.