Libya's new unity government on Thursday demanded the "immediate" withdrawal of all foreign mercenaries ahead of year-end elections, in a call backed by the visiting top diplomats of France, Germany and Italy.
The North African country descended into chaos after dictator Moamer Kadhafi was toppled and killed in a 2011 NATO-backed uprising, resulting in multiple forces vying for power.
Fighting only came to a halt last summer, and a formal ceasefire in October was followed by the establishment of a unity government led by interim Prime Minister Abdul Hamid Dbeibah.
The conflict was stoked by outside powers, but the issue of foreign forces and mercenaries -- estimated by the UN to number 20,000 in December -- is seen as a threat to the UN-backed transition leading to December 24 elections.
"We reiterate the need for the departure of all mercenaries from Libya, and immediately," Libyan Foreign Minister Najla al-Mangoush said at a Tripoli news conference joined by her French, German and Italian counterparts.
French Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian echoed her call, saying their departure "is essential for the Libyan state to assert its sovereignty".
"We cannot look away from the consequences that the Libyan crisis may have in Europe in terms of security, terrorism and migration," he told the same news conference.....AFP
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