Libya: Europeans urge 'cease-fire'

The High Representative of the European Union and the Foreign Ministers of France, Germany and Italy on Tuesday urged the protagonists of the Libyan conflict to a cease-fire, diplomacy said French. The signatories "urge all the Libyan and international parties to put an immediate and effective end to all military operations and to engage constructively in the negotiations," said the statement sent by French diplomacy.

"These efforts must lead all the parties to agree quickly (...) on a cease-fire agreement providing in particular for the withdrawal of all regions of Libya from all foreign forces, mercenaries and equipment soldiers delivered in violation of the United Nations arms embargo , " the text continues. He also urged the belligerents to "take a constructive part in all aspects of the inter-Libyan dialogue conducted under the aegis of the United Nations, in order to move towards a comprehensive political agreement within the parameters agreed upon in Berlin" .

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On January 19, the main countries concerned had promised to respect the arms embargo and not to interfere in Libyan internal affairs after a summit in Berlin. But clashes rage between the Government of National Unity (GNA), recognized by the UN and the forces of Marshal Khalifa Haftar, the strong man of eastern Libya, supported by Egypt, Russia and the Emirates united arabs.

The country has been in chaos since the fall of Gaddafi in 2011. Since April 2019, the conflict has left hundreds of people dead, including many civilians, and pushed more than 200,000 people to flee their homes. The UN mission (Manul) said on Sunday that more than 16,000 people had been displaced by the latest fighting.