Libya’s Menfi, Saudi crown prince discuss political developments

By Mohamed Artemah

TRIPOLI, Libya (AA) – Head of Libya’s Presidency Council, Mohamed al-Menfi, met with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman in the capital Riyadh to discuss Libyan political developments and prospects for cooperation between the two countries.

A statement by al-Menfi’s office said the two sides also discussed a number of issues of mutual concern, the Saudi state news agency SPA reported.

Al-Menfi had participated in the Arab-China summit in the Saudi capital, Riyadh, on Friday during which he called for Arab and Chinese support to restore stability to Libya.

Oil-rich Libya has remained in turmoil since 2011 when longtime ruler Muammar Gaddafi was ousted after four decades in power.

The situation has worsened since last March when East Libya-based parliament appointed a new government led by former Interior Minister Fathi Bashagha, but Tripoli-based Prime Minister Abdul Hamid Dbeibeh, one of the two figures claiming power and authority in Libya, insists he will cede authority only to a government that comes through an "elected parliament," raising fears that Libya could slip back into a civil war.

* Ikram Imane Kouachi contributed to this report