City
Epaper

Putin, Erdogan call for ceasefire in Libya: Russian FM

By IANS | Updated: January 9, 2020 07:20 IST

Russian President Vladimir Putin and his Turkish counterpart Recep Tayyip Erdogan have urged to establish a ceasefire in Libya starting midnight on Jan. 12, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said.

Open in App

"I would like to emphasize the appeal that President Putin and President Erdogan addressed to all the Libyan parties: immediately cease hostilities, and declare a ceasefire from 00:00 on Jan. 12, 2020, i.e. Saturday night to Sunday," he said in a statement released on the website of Russian Foreign Ministry on Wednesday, Xinhua news agency reported.

According to Lavrov, the two leaders, following their talks in Istanbul, stressed the importance of participation of all parties in Libya and its neighbouring countries.

"The foreign ministers and the defence ministers of Russia and Turkey were instructed to continue contacts in the coming days in order to advance the approaches outlined above for the Libyan crisis," read the statement.

Libya has been torn by a raging civil war, between the UN-recognized Government of National Accord (GNA) based in the capital Tripoli and the Libyan National Army and its allies based in the east.

Earlier on Sunday, Erdogan said Turkey was "gradually" sending troops to the North African country under a deal inked with the GNA, a move which stirred opposition from some of its regional neighbours.

The Turkish leader assured that the mission of Turkish soldiers was not to fight, but to ensure a ceasefire in Libya.

( With inputs from IANS )

Tags: LibyaErdoganRussiaTurkey
Open in App

Related Stories

InternationalLibyan Military Plane Crash: Army Chief, Four Others Killed While Returning From Turkey

InternationalMoscow: One Killed, 3 Injured in Knife Attack at School in Odintsovo

InternationalRussia Market Fire: One Dead, Two Injured as Massive Blaze Sweeps Through St Petersburg Complex (Watch Video)

InternationalRussia Plane Crash: 7 Killed After Military Transport Jet Crashes Near Ivankovo

NationalIndia to Introduce Free 30-Day e-Visa for Russian Tourists, Says PM Narendra Modi

International Realted Stories

InternationalUN launches USD 1.71 billion humanitarian appeal for Afghanistan in 2026

InternationalOver 35,000 drug users treated, reintegrated in Afghanistan in one year: Official

InternationalIreland raises alarm over China's expanding influence in universities

InternationalBangladesh bids farewell to former PM Khaleda Zia as leaders pay their respects at her funeral

InternationalTaipei says over 200 aircrafts flew around Taiwanese territory during China's military exercise