Libya's parliament speaker set to visit Qatar to 'end differences'

TRIPOLI, Libya

Libya’s Parliament Speaker Aguila Saleh is set to visit Qatar on Saturday to meet with Emir Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani for talks on ending differences between the two sides, according to a Libyan lawmaker.

Saleh was invited by Qatari Foreign Minister Mohammed bin Abdulrahman to visit the Gulf state during their meeting in Türkiye last month, Abdel-Men'em Al-Arfy told Anadolu Agency.

The visit “aims to bring closer the views of the two sides,” Al-Arfy said. “Saleh will seek to convey the view of the Libyan Parliament and State,” he added.

The Libyan parliamentarian said Qatar could play a mediator role in the Libyan crisis.

"Qatar is part of the Gulf Cooperation Council. We must reach an understanding with it and turn the page of past differences,” he added.

In past years, the Libyan Parliament accused Qatar of supporting armed groups opposing to the East Libya-based assembly, an accusation denied by Doha.

Oil-rich Libya has remained in turmoil since 2011 when longtime ruler Muammar Gaddafi was ousted after four decades in power.

The situation has worsened since March when the Libyan Parliament appointed a new government led by former Interior Minister Fathi Bashagha.

Abdul Hamid Dbeibeh, leader of the Tripoli-based National Unity Government, insists he will only cede authority to a government that comes through an "elected parliament," raising fears that Libya could slip back into a civil war.

*Writing by Ahmed Asmar