By Mohammad Erteima
TRIPOLI, Libya (AA) - Libyan Defense Minister Salah Eddine Namroush has described France’s support to eastern warlord Khalifa Haftar as "shame".
"It is shame on the government of France and [President Emmanuel] Macron to receive one like Haftar for years," Namroush said in an interview with France 24 television.
Namroush said the Tripoli-based internationally-recognized government was ready to engage in talks with the other side to forge a political solution "on the condition that Haftar is sidelined once and for all."
The Libyan minister threatened that the government would withdraw from a cease-fire agreement and the 5+5 joint military committee if Haftar continued his violations of the deal.
The 5+5 joint military committee was formed in February from both warring Libyan parties, which resulted in a cease-fire agreement in October under UN mediation.
Last week, the Libyan government accused Haftar of violating the cease-fire by launching an attack on a military camp in the southern town of Awbari.
Libya has been torn by civil war since the ouster of late ruler Muammar Gaddafi in 2011.
Based in the capital Tripoli and currently led by Prime Minister Fayez al-Sarraj, the Government of National Accord assumed office in 2015 under a UN-led agreement. But the efforts for a long-term political settlement have failed due to a military offensive launched by Haftar.
Tripoli has been battling Haftar's militias since April 2019 in a conflict that has claimed thousands of lives.
*Ahmed Asmar in Ankara contributed to this report