Erdogan vows to increase support to Libya's UN-backed government

Turkey will increase its support to Libya's United Nations-backed prime minister Fayez al-Serraj, President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said on Thursday, stressing the need for a political solution in Libya under the auspices of the UN.

"We will never leave our Libyan brothers to the mercy of putschists and legionaries," Erdogan told a joint press conference with Serraj in Ankara.

Libya is divided between two rival factions that are supported by different regional powers. Serraj leads the internationally recognised Government of National Accord (GNA) based in Tripoli.

Turkey has signed agreements on military and security cooperation and maritime boundaries with the GNA. It also sent military personnel and equipment to back it against the rival forces of warlord Khalifa Haftar's self-styled Libyan National Army (LNA).

Ankara is also seeking to strengthen co-operation with al-Serraj's government to explore and drill oil off Libya in eastern Mediterranean, Erdogan said.

Turkey, along with Qatar, backs the GNA against Haftar, who is supported by Egypt, Russia and the United Arab Emirates.

Haftar and his supporters are "the biggest obstacle" to peace in Libya, Erdogan charged, adding Haftar has no role to play at the negotiation table.

The GNA is not interested in negotiations with "war criminal" Haftar, Serraj said during the press conference in Ankara. Libya thanks Turkey for its support and hopes to see Turkish companies participate in rebuilding Libya, Serraj added.

On Thursday, the GNA said it had recaptured the Tripoli airport from Haftar's forces based in eastern Libya. The GNA's military spokesman, Mohammed Gnounou, said government forces were in complete control of Tripoli's borders after having pushed back Haftar's forces.

So far, there has been no comment from the LNA.

Meanwhile, Haftar arrived in Cairo late on Wednesday for talks with Egyptian officials, according to media reports. So far, however, there has been no official confirmation of the reported visit.

In April last year, Haftar ordered his forces to seize Tripoli from the GNA. In recent weeks, his campaign has suffered setbacks.

Oil-rich Libya has been in turmoil since a 2011 revolt toppled long-time dictator Muammar Gaddafi and has become a battleground for rival proxy forces.    (dpa)