Egypt security delegation in Libya capital for rare visit

Officials say two countries held 'high-level meeting'

Fayez al-Sarraj, Prime Minister of Libya's UN-recognised Government of National Accord (GNA), gives a speech during a military parade. AFP

Egyptian security officials on Sunday met representatives of Libya's Government of National Accord, a first delegation in nearly six years from Cairo.

The Interior Minister for the GNA, Fathi Bachagha, held "a high-level meeting" with the Egyptian delegation, which included the deputy intelligence services chief, his office said.

Imed Trabelsi, head of the Libyan general security body, also attended the meeting.

The talks covered "ways of strengthening security co-operation" and support for a ceasefire signed in October between rival Libyan sides under UN auspices, the ministry said.

Libya has been riven by violence since a 2011 Nato-backed uprising that toppled and killed dictator Muammar Qaddafi.

Two rival administrations have vied for control of the oil-rich country for years, with the GNA in Tripoli, supported by Turkey, pitted against the Libyan National Army, led by Field Marshal Khalifa Haftar.

Field Marshal Haftar is supported by a rival administration, the House of Representatives, in the country's east.

Turkish support for the GNA this year helped to repel a 14-month offensive against the capital and the militias employed to defend it.

Turkey has provided troops, weapons and Syrian mercenaries to the GNA, in a move widely condemned by the international community.

The ceasefire struck by the two sides in October has set the stage for elections at the end of 2021.

Sunday's visit was the first made by an official Egyptian delegation to Tripoli since 2014, when Cairo closed its embassy in the Libyan capital because of violence.

The delegation also met the GNA's Foreign Minister, Mohamed Siala.

The aim of the talks was to work to "normalise diplomatic relations" between Tripoli and Cairo and discuss "co-operation in various areas", said Mohammad Elgeblawi, spokesman for the GNA Foreign Ministry.

Mr Elgeblawi, said the delegation pledged to reopen the Egyptian consulate "as soon as possible" and to re-establish air links between the two capitals, which have been interrupted for several years.

The visit comes days after Field Marshal Haftar said that his forces would "prepare to drive out the occupier by faith, will and weapons", referring to Turkish troops.

Turkish Defence Minister Hulusi Akar was in Tripoli on Saturday and vowed that any attack by the LNA on Turkey's personnel in Libya would be met with force.