Libya Against Presence of Foreign Troops on its Territory - Parliament Speaker

Sputnik News

20:42 16.12.2016

Libya will not agree to allow the presence of foreign military forces on its territory, Aguila Saleh, the speaker of the country's internationally recognized parliament in Tobruk, told Sputnik Friday.

CAIRO (Sputnik) – He added that Libya was interested in arms supply, foreign military experience and training of servicemen, since the country had "a strong army, men, ready to fight, if they are provided with arms."

"We will not allow to have any foreign troops on our territory. This is unacceptable," Saleh said.

Libya has been in a state of turmoil since 2011, when a civil war began in the country and its longtime leader Muammar Gaddafi was overthrown. In December 2015, Libya's rival governments – the Council of Deputies based in Tobruk and the Tripoli-based General National Congress – agreed to create the Government of National Accord (GNA), to form the Presidency Council and to end the political impasse.

Troops loyal to Libyan National Army General Khalifa Haftar support the Libyan parliament based in Tobruk.

© Sputnik