Foreign minister for Libyan unity gov't to visit Moscow

MOSCOW

Foreign minister for Libya's unity government is expected to visit Moscow in early May, Russian deputy foreign minister said Tuesday.

Head of the Government of National Accord Foreign Service Mohamed Taher Siala was supposed to meet with his Russian counterpart today, but he had to postpone his visit in the Russian capital due to "complicated" situation in Libya, Mikhail Bogdanov told reporters.

"I talked to him yesterday. We were ready to receive him today, but he asked to postpone for a few days because the situation is complicated," Bogdanov said.

He said Siala's visit is expected sometime after May 5.

Libya has remained beset by turmoil since long-serving leader Muammar Gaddafi was ousted and killed in a bloody NATO-backed uprising in 2011.

Since then, the oil-rich country has seen the emergence of two rival seats of power: one in eastern Libya, to which commander Khalifa Haftar is affiliated, and another in Tripoli, which enjoys UN recognition.