Head of UN-recognized Libyan government to visit Turkey

ISTANBUL

The head of the UN-recognized government in Libya is due to visit Turkey on Sunday, a diplomatic source said on Saturday.

Fayez al-Sarraj, chairman of the Presidential Council of Libya, is expected to meet with Turkey’s President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, said the source, who asked not to be named due to restrictions on speaking to the media.

Al-Sarraj would arrive in Istanbul in the morning, the source added.

On Jan. 2, upon a request by the Government of National Accord in Libya, Turkey’s parliament passed a motion on sending troops to the country.

On Wednesday, Turkish and Russian presidents have urged for a cease-fire in Libya by midnight of Jan. 12.

Since the ouster of late leader Muammar Gaddafi in 2011, two seats of power have emerged in Libya: one in eastern Libya supported mainly by Egypt and the United Arab Emirates and the other in Tripoli, which enjoys the UN and international recognition.