Russia backs Egyptian peace initiative for Libya conflict

MOSCOW - Russia's Foreign Ministry said on Monday that a new Egyptian peace initiative for Libya must be the main forum to decide the future of the country.

Calling proposals put forward by Cairo comprehensive, Moscow said they could serve as a basis for long overdue negotiations between the opposing sides in Libya.

Russia, the UAE, and Egypt back the Libyan National Army (LNA) in the east of the country, led by commander Khalifa Haftar, which has suffered a string of sudden reverses over the past week.

Egypt's President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi announced a new initiative for Libya on Saturday which proposes the election of a leadership council, the disbanding of militias and the exit of all foreign fighters from Libya.

But Libyan fighters and Turkish-backed militias and mercenaries allied with the Government of national Accord led by Fayez al-Sarraj in Tripoli rejected Sisi’s initiative, pressing their advance on Monday, boosted by recent their rivals' withdrawal from around the capital, the warring sides reported.

Military commander Khalifa Haftar’s Libyan National Army has waged a year-long campaign, trying to capture Tripoli from the GNA forces.