Germanyʹs Merkel hosts head of Libyan government amid offensive by rival forces

German Chancellor Angela Merkel on Tuesday hosted the head of the internationally-recognised Libyan government, Fayez al-Sarraj, for talks on finding a solution to the country's crisis.

During a trip to Burkina Faso last week, Merkel said that Europe must adopt a common position to resolve the Libyan crisis.

Sarraj is touring Europe to mobilise support in the face of an offensive by rival forces on the capital Tripoli. He began the trip in Rome, where he met Italian Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte. He plans to meet French President Emmanuel Macron on Wednesday.

Last month, the commander of the eastern Libyan National Army (LNA), Khalifa Haftar, ordered his forces to seize Tripoli from Sarraj's internationally recognised government. The fighting over Tripoli, which has claimed about 400 lives, has since reached a stalemate, with neither side able to make substantial progress.

Libya has at least two competing administrations: the Tripoli-based Government of National Accord (GNA) backed by the UN and the other in the eastern city of Tobruk, which is allied with Haftar.

"The military option cannot be a solution and you have confirmation of this because now we are practically in a situation that seems like a stalemate," Conte told reporters after his meeting with Sarraj earlier on Tuesday. Conte said the situation on the ground could change quickly, however. He said he was planning to talk directly also with Haftar.    (dpa)