Top Algerian diplomat in Libya to meet Haftar

BENGHAZI, Libya

Algerian Foreign Minister Sabri Boukadoum arrived in Benghazi, Libya on Wednesday to hold talks with renegade Gen. Khalifa Haftar, according to sources familiar with the development.

In a statement, the so-called Foreign Ministry of Libya's eastern government confirmed that Abdel-Hadi Al-Hawij received his Algerian counterpart Boukadoum. It, however, did not provide any further details regarding the purpose of the visit.

But an official in the "Foreign Ministry", on the condition of anonymity, told Anadolu Agency that it was expected that Boukadoum would hold talks with Haftar in the Rajma village near Benghazi.

"Algeria has recently been heavily involved in the Libyan issue, and since it has influence and weightage, all forces in Libya are seeking to win Algeria on its side," the official added.

Boukadoum's visit, the sources said, was aimed at ending the crisis in Libya through political dialogue and mediation.

Meanwhile, the ِLibyan Address, a newspaper affiliated with Haftar, also reported that Al-Hawij received Boukadoum at the airport. It printed the story with a photo of the Algerian minister's arrival in the conflict-ridden country.

In a separate post on its Facebook account, the paper added that Haftar met the Algerian foreign minister in his office in Rajma, east of Tripoli.

Since the ouster of late ruler 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 UN and international recognition.

Libya’s legitimate government has been under attack by Haftar’s forces since last April, claiming the lives of more than 1,000 people.

On Jan. 12, the conflicting parties in Libya announced a cease-fire in response to a joint call by Turkey and Russia’s leaders. But talks for a permanent cease-fire ended without an agreement after Haftar left Moscow on Jan. 14 without signing the deal.

Haftar agreed at the Berlin Conference on Libya on Jan. 19 to designate members to a UN-proposed military commission with five members from each side to monitor the implementation of the cease-fire. The decision was a key result of the conference.

*Bassel Ibrahim contributed to this report from Ankara