Turkey accuses France of committing crimes in Libya

ANKARA 

Turkey's ruling party spokesman on Friday accused France of committing crimes in civil war-torn Libya.

“France has committed crimes in Libya,” said Omer Celik, spokesman for the Justice and Development (AK) Party. 

Celik said as France’s crimes have surfaced with mass graves, it is posing as a human rights defender to get away with the crimes by blaming Turkey. 

Recalling France’s colonial history, he said: “France is guilty.”

“[France] cannot cover those mass graves by excessive attacks on Turkey or on our president.” 

Libya has been torn by civil war since the ouster of late ruler Muammar Gaddafi in 2011. The country's new government was founded in 2015 under a UN-led agreement, but efforts for a long-term political settlement failed due to a military offensive by warlord Khalifa Haftar's forces.

The UN recognizes the Libyan government headed by Fayez al-Sarraj as the country's legitimate authority, as Tripoli has battled Haftar's militias since April 2019, a conflict that has taken over 1,000 lives. 

After the discovery of mass graves in areas left behind by retreating Haftar militias, the UN and international jurists have expressed concern over possible war crimes. While Turkey continues to support Libya’s internationally recognized government, Haftar has been supported by Russia, France, Egypt, and the UAE.