Libyan leader arrives in Algeria following peace talks

Libyan leader arrives in Algeria following peace talks
The head of the UN-recognised Libyan government Fayez al-Sarraj met Algerian Prime Minister Abdelmalek Sellal to discuss developments on a peace deal with his east Libya rivals.
2 min read
10 May, 2017
Fayez Al-Sarraj [AFP]
Libyan presidency council leader Fayez Al-Sarraj flew in to Algiers on Wednesday to be briefed on a conference held by Tripoli's neighbours on Tuesday about the ongoing war in Libya.

Sarraj was briefed by Algerian Prime Minister Abdelmalek Sellal and its Maghreb, African and Arab affairs minister, Abdelkader Messahel about a meeting between ministers from Egypt, Tunisia, Sudan, Niger and Chad in Algiers.

Tuesday's meeting saw the neighbours support Sarraj's government but called for an authority that recognises all of Libya's factions, including east Libyan renegade military commander Khalifa Haftar.  

Sarraj laid a wreath at the memorial in honour of those who died in the Algerian war of independence against French colonialists which lasted between 1954 and 1962.

This comes after 15 fighters loyal to Sarraj's rival, General Haftar were killed on Monday in a new offensive against Islamist jihadi fighters in Benghazi.

Analysis: Haftar-Serraj meeting raises hopes, but Libyan factions must compromise

The Libyan civil war began in February 2011 after a series of protests were brutally suppressed by the regime's security forces.

It led to an armed rebellion against Colonel Muammar Gaddafi, which saw the eventual overthrow of the regime and death of the long-time leader.

Since then, Libya has been fragmented by rival authorities and militias, including some linked to al-Qaeda and the Islamic State group.

A recent meeting between Sarraj and Haftar in Abu Dhabi has offered hope that a peace deal between Libya's two largest factions could be agreed.