Turkey welcomes Libya’s unity govt's move to new HQ

ANKARA (AA) – A statement from the Turkish foreign ministry late Tuesday greeted Libya’s UN-backed unity government as it moved into its new headquarters in the country’s capital.

"We welcome Libya's unity government's move into the government building in Tripoli," the statement said.

Turkey will continue to "strongly" support Libya's territorial integrity and national unity, it added.

The fledgling government held its first meeting Monday that was attended by top government officials, including Prime Minister Fayez al-Sarraj.

Meanwhile, personnel from various ministries, including defense and foreign affairs, also moved into the new headquarters in the capital.

Libya has largely remained in turmoil since 2011, when a bloody uprising ended with the ouster and death of longtime strongman Muammar Gaddafi.

Following Gaddafi’s departure, the country’s stark political divisions yielded two rival seats of government -- one in Tobruk and another in Tripoli.

Late last year, the rival governments signed a UN-sponsored agreement to establish a unity government in an effort to resolve the ongoing political standoff.

In March, members of the new unity government, led by al-Sarraj, arrived in Tripoli from Tunisia with a view to assuming their governing mandate.