Turkish foreign minister, UK, EU officials talk Libya

ANKARA

Turkey's foreign minister discussed latest developments in Libya with his British counterpart Jeremy Hunt and EU foreign policy chief Federica Mogherini over the phone on Tuesday, according to diplomatic sources.

The sources, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said Mevlut Cavusoglu had a phone conversation with Jeremy Hunt and Federica Mogherini.

Cavusoglu had also discussed latest situation in Libya with his Italian counterpart Enzo Moavero Milanesi over the phone on late Monday.

Last Thursday, commander Khalifa Haftar launched military operations with the stated aim of capturing the capital Tripoli. After initial success, however, the campaign on Monday appeared to have lost momentum.

Libya has remained beset by turmoil since 2011, when a bloody, NATO-backed uprising led to the ouster and death of strongman Muammar Gaddafi after four decades in power.

Since then, the country’s stark political divisions have yielded two rival seats of power: one in the eastern city of Bengazi, with which Haftar is associated, and another in Tripoli, which has UN support.

ANKARA

The sources, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said Mevlut Cavusoglu had a phone conversation with Jeremy Hunt and Federica Mogherini.

Cavusoglu had also discussed latest situation in Libya with his Italian counterpart Enzo Moavero Milanesi over the phone on late Monday.

Libya has remained beset by turmoil since 2011, when a bloody, NATO-backed uprising led to the ouster and death of strongman Muammar Gaddafi after four decades in power.