Groups in western Libya have cast doubt on talks in Paris on Tuesday that aim to pave the way for elections in the divided country, fearing the meeting could play into the hands of their rival, eastern-based commander Khalifa Haftar.

Libya splintered following the 2011 NATO-backed revolt that toppled Muammar Gaddafi, and since 2014 has been divided into competing political and military factions based in Tripoli and the east. The United Nations is leading an effort to reunify the oil-rich nation and to organise national elections.

The Paris meeting is due to include Haftar, Tripoli Prime Minister Fayez Seraj, and the leaders of rival parliamentary assemblies, and urge them to agree to general principles for ending Libya's crisis, a French official said.

"There will be a collective commitment to do everything to ensure that the elections are held by the end of the year," the official said. France is also seeking agreement on unifying financial and security institutions.

Tripoli's State Council, one of Libya's two rival assemblies, voted to send a delegation to the talks, but also issued a series of demands including an immediate ceasefire in the eastern city of Derna and the lifting of a siege there by Haftar's Libyan National Army (LNA).

The LNA stepped up its campaign in Derna earlier this month and clashes continued there on Monday.

The State Council also said a UN-brokered political deal from 2015, which eastern factions have rejected, must remain in place, and that military institution must operate under civilian authority.

Haftar has appointed military governors to replace elected mayors in much of eastern Libya. Opponents suspect him of seeking national power and fear he will return the country to authoritarian rule.

A group of 13 military councils and brigades in western Libya issued a statement saying that the Paris initiative did not represent them. "We call for real dialogue focused on the aspirations of Libyan society in its aspects," the statement said.

It also declared its opposition to "foreign interference" and to "any initiative aimed at normalising military rule".

Over the weekend, Tripoli armed groups displaced the Presidential Guard -- a force formed by Seraj's Government of National Accord with international backing -- from strategic positions at the capital's shuttered international airport and the prime minister's office. Diplomatic sources linked the move at least in part to unease over the Paris meeting.

Under President Emmanuel Macron, France has tried to expand its role in coaxing Libya's factions to end the turmoil. Last year Macron convened rare talks between Haftar and Seraj in Paris.

But critics have questioned the need for this week's talks, given an existing "action plan" launched last year by UN&nbspLibya envoy Ghassan Salame, which is also aimed at paving the way for elections.

"The steps that need to be taken were already pretty much known and identified by the action plan," said one diplomatic source. "So we don't need another plan, and my fear is that this new initiative if anything engenders extra confusion."

France says there will be broad international participation at Tuesday's talks and that they are in accordance with Salame's plans.

Given continuing divisions in Libya, the Paris meeting should not impose too rigid a framework on participants, to avoid "creating unrealistic expectations that, when dashed, can only harden existing narratives and further inflame tensions", the non-governmental International Crisis Group said in a briefing.

Groups in western Libya have cast doubt on talks in Paris on Tuesday that aim to pave the way for elections in the divided country, fearing the meeting could play into the hands of their rival, eastern-based commander Khalifa Haftar

Groups in western Libya have cast doubt on talks in Paris on Tuesday that aim to pave the way for elections in the divided country, fearing the meeting could play into the hands of their rival, eastern-based commander Khalifa Haftar. Libya splintered following the 2011 NATO-backed revolt that toppled Muammar Gaddafi, and since 2014 has been divided into competing political and military factions based in Tripoli and the east. The United Nations is leading an effort to reunify the oil-rich nation and to organise national elections. The Paris meeting is due to include Haftar, Tripoli Prime Minister Fayez Seraj, and the leaders of rival parliamentary assemblies, and urge them to agree to general principles for ending Libya's crisis, a French official said. "There will be a collective commitment to do everything to ensure that the elections are held by the end of the year," the official said. France is also seeking agreement on unifying financial and security institutions. Tripoli's State Council, one of Libya's two rival assemblies, voted to send a delegation to the talks, but also issued a series of demands including an immediate ceasefire in the eastern city of Derna and the lifting of a siege there by Haftar's Libyan National Army (LNA). The LNA stepped up its campaign in Derna earlier this month and clashes continued there on Monday. The State Council also said a UN-brokered political deal from 2015, which eastern factions have rejected, must remain in place, and that military institution must operate under civilian authority. Haftar has appointed military governors to replace elected mayors in much of eastern Libya. Opponents suspect him of seeking national power and fear he will return the country to authoritarian rule. A group of 13 military councils and brigades in western Libya issued a statement saying that the Paris initiative did not represent them. "We call for real dialogue focused on the aspirations of Libyan society in its aspects," the statement said. It also declared its opposition to "foreign interference" and to "any initiative aimed at normalising military rule". Over the weekend, Tripoli armed groups displaced the Presidential Guard -- a force formed by Seraj's Government of National Accord with international backing -- from strategic positions at the capital's shuttered international airport and the prime minister's office. Diplomatic sources linked the move at least in part to unease over the Paris meeting. Under President Emmanuel Macron, France has tried to expand its role in coaxing Libya's factions to end the turmoil. Last year Macron convened rare talks between Haftar and Seraj in Paris. But critics have questioned the need for this week's talks, given an existing "action plan" launched last year by UN&nbspLibya envoy Ghassan Salame, which is also aimed at paving the way for elections. "The steps that need to be taken were already pretty much known and identified by the action plan," said one diplomatic source. "So we don't need another plan, and my fear is that this new initiative if anything engenders extra confusion." France says there will be broad international participation at Tuesday's talks and that they are in accordance with Salame's plans. Given continuing divisions in Libya, the Paris meeting should not impose too rigid a framework on participants, to avoid "creating unrealistic expectations that, when dashed, can only harden existing narratives and further inflame tensions", the non-governmental International Crisis Group said in a briefing.

West Libya factions raise doubts on Paris talks

Russian foreign minister Sergei Lavrov and Fayez al-Sarraj, leader of the UN-backed government of Lybia&#39;s Tripoli, met in Moscow on Thursday. They discussed the possible role of mediator that Russia could have in the war-torn north African Country.&nbsp;

According to a statement issued by minister Lavrov, the dialogue was focused on the necessity to re-unite Lybia and the possible ways to do it.&nbsp;

Lybia is currently a divided country, &#39;hostage&#39; of a power struggle between several factions.&nbsp;

Moscow declared to be ready to mediate between the rivals in order to find a common solution and bring back peace in a strategically oil and gas-rich country. &quot;Moscow confirmed its readiness to work closely with all sides in Libya with the aim of seeking mutually acceptable solutions to create the grounds for the stable development of Libya as a united, sovereign and independent state,&quot; the ministry said in a statement.&nbsp;

The Libyan political delegation had been accompanied by officials representing the National Oil Corporation and the defense ministry.&nbsp;

Al-Seraj&#39;s major rival is Khalifa Aftar, a military commander who enjoys support by many factions active in the east of the country. Seraj visit to Moscow could be seen as an effort to overcome this rivalry which is paralysing Lybia.&nbsp;

This is also part of a renewed Russian activism in the international scenario. The country is also fighting alongside Syrian President Bashar al-Assad against several rebel groups and terrorist organisations controlling significant swathes of territory. &nbsp;

Moscow&#39;s activism has not been welcomed by the US which are currently supporting a number of groups active within the so called Free Syrian Army, an organisation currently fighting against Bashar al-Assad. &nbsp;

Seraj&#39;s office quoted him as saying that Russia could play a positive role in Libya &quot;thanks to its ties with various Libyan parties.&quot; &quot;The passage of time does not allow for the political maneuvers that (some) Libyan groups are trying to play,&quot; Seraj&#39;s office said.&nbsp;

&quot;The Russian side stressed the need for an inclusive intra-Libyan dialogue aimed at setting up unified organs of power, including an army and police force capable of maintaining security and law and order and of effectively countering a terrorist threat,&quot; it said.&nbsp;

Lavrov and Seraj had also discussed the progress of the U.N.-sponsored reconciliation dialogue, the Russian Foreign Ministry said.&nbsp;

(WION with inputs from Reuters)&nbsp;

Russian foreign minister Sergei Lavrov met with Prime Minister Fayez Seraj in Moscow on Thursday

Russian foreign minister Sergei Lavrov and Fayez al-Sarraj, leader of the UN-backed government of Lybia's Tripoli, met in Moscow on Thursday. They discussed the possible role of mediator that Russia could have in the war-torn north African Country. According to a statement issued by minister Lavrov, the dialogue was focused on the necessity to re-unite Lybia and the possible ways to do it. Lybia is currently a divided country, 'hostage' of a power struggle between several factions. Moscow declared to be ready to mediate between the rivals in order to find a common solution and bring back peace in a strategically oil and gas-rich country. "Moscow confirmed its readiness to work closely with all sides in Libya with the aim of seeking mutually acceptable solutions to create the grounds for the stable development of Libya as a united, sovereign and independent state," the ministry said in a statement. The Libyan political delegation had been accompanied by officials representing the National Oil Corporation and the defense ministry. Al-Seraj's major rival is Khalifa Aftar, a military commander who enjoys support by many factions active in the east of the country. Seraj visit to Moscow could be seen as an effort to overcome this rivalry which is paralysing Lybia. This is also part of a renewed Russian activism in the international scenario. The country is also fighting alongside Syrian President Bashar al-Assad against several rebel groups and terrorist organisations controlling significant swathes of territory. Moscow's activism has not been welcomed by the US which are currently supporting a number of groups active within the so called Free Syrian Army, an organisation currently fighting against Bashar al-Assad. Seraj's office quoted him as saying that Russia could play a positive role in Libya "thanks to its ties with various Libyan parties." "The passage of time does not allow for the political maneuvers that (some) Libyan groups are trying to play," Seraj's office said. "The Russian side stressed the need for an inclusive intra-Libyan dialogue aimed at setting up unified organs of power, including an army and police force capable of maintaining security and law and order and of effectively countering a terrorist threat," it said. Lavrov and Seraj had also discussed the progress of the U.N.-sponsored reconciliation dialogue, the Russian Foreign Ministry said. (WION with inputs from Reuters)

Russia tells Libyan PM it is ready to help unify his divided country

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West Libya factions raise doubts on Paris talks

Russia tells Libyan PM it is ready to help unify his divided country