Italy’s PM discusses developments in Libya with Haftar

TRIPOLI, Libya

Italian Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte discussed developments in Libya related to inter-Libyan political dialogue with warlord Khalifa Haftar in Benghazi on Thursday.

According to Haftar's media office, he hailed "the role of the Italian government in supporting solutions to the Libyan crisis."

The media office did not provide any statements by the Italian officials who accompanied Conte in his visit to Benghazi, however.

Following the short visit, the Italian Foreign Ministry said that 18 Italian fishermen who were incarcerated in Libya for three months by Haftar's militia were released.

Italian Foreign Minister Luigi Di Maio thanked the Italian intelligence and diplomatic corps for "having worked to bring them back" to Italy.

Di Maio also confirmed Italy's support for the stabilization process in Libya, saying "this is what I and Premier Giuseppe Conte have reiterated today to Haftar during our meeting in Benghazi."

Libya has been torn by a civil war since the ouster of late ruler Muammar Gaddafi in 2011.

The Government of National Accord was founded in 2015 under a UN-led agreement, but efforts for a long-term settlement failed due to a military offensive by forces loyal to Haftar. He launched an onslaught on the capital Tripoli in April 2019 but was pushed back.

A cease-fire was agreed on in late October, and negotiations for an interim setup before presidential and parliamentary elections on Dec. 24, 2021 are continuing.

*Ahmed Asmar contributed to this report from Ankara