Libya's neighbors seek talks in crisis

Nations: ‘Decisively reject’ military fix

Libyan Foreign Minister Mohamed Taher Siala (left) and Abdelkader Messahel, Algeria’s minister for African and Maghreb affairs, talk Saturday in Cairo during a ministerial meeting of countries that border Libya.
Libyan Foreign Minister Mohamed Taher Siala (left) and Abdelkader Messahel, Algeria’s minister for African and Maghreb affairs, talk Saturday in Cairo during a ministerial meeting of countries that border Libya.

CAIRO -- Representatives of Libya's neighbors meeting in Cairo on Saturday warned the North African nation's main rival factions against seeking to settle their differences through military force, as Egypt announced that efforts were underway to unite their leaders to chart a "joint vision" for the country.

The representatives hailed from Libya, Egypt, Sudan, Algeria, Chad, Niger and Tunisia. Also attending was U.N. envoy to Libya Martin Kobler.

"A comprehensive political dialogue between all Libya parties is the only way out of this crisis," said a final communique after the meeting, saying the delegates "decisively reject" a military solution to the Libyan crisis, referring to past clashes between forces backing the factions.

Libya's government has been divided since the ouster and later killing of Moammar Gadhafi in a 2011 uprising and subsequent civil war, with two rival administrations operating in the east and west of the vast, oil-rich nation. Also operating is an array of militant Islamic groups, including an affiliate of the extremist Islamic State.

The communique said participants in the Cairo meeting commended recent defeats of the militants in the coastal cities of Sirte and Benghazi but that they remained concerned over their continuing presence elsewhere in the country.

Addressing a news conference after the meeting, Egyptian Foreign Minister Sameh Shukri said work was underway to get the leaders of Libya's main factions -- the Tripoli government, parliament in the eastern city of Tobruk and the leader of the national army -- to meet.

He, however, gave no specifics, only saying the proposed gathering would aim to "bolster trust, understanding and search for a joint vision."

Shukri also repeated calls on the international community to lift a ban on arms sales to Libya, saying the national army was a legitimate entity. "It's inappropriate for this ban to stand, and we continue to demand that it be rescinded."

The Libyan army is led by Field Marshal Khalifa Hifter, who is backed by Egypt and is seen by some in Libya's eastern region as the country's best hope for defeating Islamic State extremists.

The Cairo meeting also called on the international community to meet Libya's humanitarian needs in 2017, citing shortages of medical supplies. It urged the international community to release frozen Libyan assets abroad as a way to ease the country's financial crisis.

Shortages of basic goods and a cash crunch have caused daily hardships for Libyans, who now stand in line for hours for fuel, cash, bread and cooking gas. Banks are open to the public once a week, with a ceiling of less than $200 on withdrawals.

A Section on 01/22/2017

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