Erdogan meets head of UN-recognized Libyan government

By Andac Hongur and Sefa Mutlu

ISTANBUL (AA) - Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Sunday met with the head of Libya's UN-recognized government in Istanbul, a diplomatic source said.

The closed-door meeting between Erdogan and Fayez al-Sarraj held at the Dolmabahce Palace lasted nearly two-and-a-half hours.

The UN-recognized Government of National Accord (GNA) in Tripoli and forces loyal to Libya's renegade Gen. Khalifa Haftar accepted a joint call by Turkey and Russia for a cease-fire on Saturday.

The cease-fire took effect at midnight local time (2200GMT) and the decision was celebrated with fireworks in Tripoli.

On April 4, Haftar launched an offensive to capture Tripoli from the GNA. 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.

Since the ouster of late leader 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 the UN and international recognition.

*Writing by Gozde Bayar