UPDATE - Turkish president receives Libyan PM in Istanbul

By Andac Hongur

ISTANBUL (AA) - Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Sunday received Fayez al-Sarraj, head of Libya's UN-recognized government, in Istanbul.

The closed-door meeting at the Vahdettin Mansion lasted nearly two-and-a-half hours.

Libya has been torn by civil war since the ouster of late ruler Muammar Gaddafi in 2011.

The Government of National Accord (GNA) was founded in 2015 under a UN-led agreement. But efforts for a long-term political settlement have failed due to a military offensive by forces loyal to renegade general Khalifa Haftar, who is backed by Egypt, the United Arab Emirates and Russia.

Diplomatic efforts have been underway in recent weeks to reach a solution to the Libyan conflict following victories made by the Libyan Army against militias of Haftar.