Libyan rivals agree on nationwide ceasefire

The two main rivals in conflict-ridden Libya have agreed on a nationwide ceasefire, except for in the fight against terrorist groups, and will work on holding early presidential and parliamentary elections, according to a joint declaration.


Prime Minister Fayez Serraj and Khalifa Haftar, the military commander based in the remote east of the vast country, made the announcement on Tuesday after talks hosted in a western suburb of Paris by French President Emmanuel Macron.

"We commit to a ceasefire and to refrain from any use of armed force for any purpose that does not strictly constitute counterterrorism," Serraj and Haftar said in a joint declaration.

Macron said that both Serraj and Haftar had shown "historic courage" in agreeing to the ceasefire.

"I think today the cause of peace has made great progress," he said at a news conference after the signing of the agreement.

"Libyan people deserve this peace, we owe it to them ... the Mediterranean needs this peace," he added.
 [aljazeera.com]
25/7/17