Libyan PM meets Algerian minister of Maghreb and African Affair

Libya's UN-backed Prime Minister Fayez Serraj met visiting Algerian Minister of Maghreb and African Affairs, Abdelkader Messahel, here on Friday.

Messahel reviewed the results of his recent tour in a number of Libyan cities including Benghazi, Zintan and Misratah, stressing the need for dialogue between the Libyan parties.

Serraj expressed appreciation for Algeria's support for Libya, stressing that the relations between the two countries are "historic and close."

The Libyan deputy prime minister, Ahmed Maiteeq, held a press conference with Messahel following his meeting with Serraj. Maiteeq also praised Algeria's role in solving the Libyan crisis.

Maiteeq said he agreed with Messahel to gather neighboring countries in Tripoli in order to bring the Libyan rivals together and end the political division.

Messahel on Wednesday met the eastern-based parliament speaker, Agila Saleh, in the eastern Libyan city of Al-Baida.

He also met General Khalifa Haftar, Libya's armed forces commander, in Benghazi.

Algerian Foreign Ministry said the visit "comes within the framework of Algeria's efforts to bring the Libyans together in order to reach a sustainable political solution to the Libyan crisis through comprehensive Libyan dialogue and national reconciliation."

Messahel said he will be visiting southern Libya, which is witnessing violence and clashes between forces of Haftar and Serraj's government.

Libya suffers political division and insecurity since the fall of Muammar Gaddafi's regime in 2011. Despite a UN-sponsored political peace deal between Libya's political rivals, the country still struggles to make a democratic transition. Endit