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French, German foreign ministers in Libya to back unity gov't

Xinhua, April 17, 2016 Adjust font size:

French and German foreign ministers on Saturday flew to Libya in a sign to support government unity which they called "a major step towards establishing a government representing the whole of Libya."

French top diplomat Jean-Marc Ayrault and his German counterpart Walter Steinmeier, expressed full support to Libya and vowed their determination to help to restore security, fight terrorism and provide public services for the benefit of all Libyans, France's Foreign Ministry said in a statement.

Ayrault and Steinmeier also called on all parties in Libya "to act responsibly at this decisive time for the future of their country by facilitating an immediate peaceful handover of power and by providing full support to the government of national accord."

Unity government headed by Fayyez Sarraj, should "swiftly assume their rightful role in exerting sole control over all public bodies and security and military forces in Libya, in order to respond to the numerous expectations of the Libyan people, " they added.

The top diplomats of Europe's two key powers pledged to reopen their embassies in the North African country "as soon as security conditions would allow," according to the statement.

Since Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi was ousted in 2011, Libya has been plunged into chaotic violence, putting at risk the security in the Maghreb region.

After four-year-long political vacuum, delegates from Libya's rival factions signed, on December 2015, a UN-brokered deal to form a national unity government. Enditem