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Turkey stipulates visa requirement for Libyans, citing security reasons

Xinhua, August 27, 2015 Adjust font size:

Turkey announced Thursday that Libyan citizens will be required to have visas to enter the country as of Sept. 24.

The new requirement, which in effect annuls a 2009 agreement on visa-free travel between the two countries, was imposed for security reasons, said Turkish Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Tanju Bilgic.

"Turkey will introduce visa requirements as of Sept. 24," Bilgic told reporters, saying Ankara has informed Libyan authorities on Tuesday of the change.

The Turkish Foreign Ministry previously issued several travel warnings concerning Libya, asking citizens to avoid traveling to Benghazi and Tripoli, due to the armed clashes which broke out ahead of the 2014 parliamentary elections.

In 2014, Ankara closed its consulate in Benghazi, and evacuated hundreds of its citizens residing in high-risk regions.

Turkey stepped up its border security in 2014 amid mounting criticism that it was slacking in halting the flow of foreign fighters into the region, particularly from Western countries. Endit