Libyan gov't denies offering to share power with eastern-based army

TRIPOLI, March 26 (Xinhua) -- Spokesman of the Libyan UN-backed government on Monday denied reports that the government had offered a deal to the eastern-based army, led by General Khalifa Haftar, to share power.

"We will repeat what we have presented that no deal or offer has been made with any party in this regard. This is not true and we deny it," spokesman Mohamed Al-Sallak told a press conference in the capital Tripoli.

"The Prime Minister welcomes all initiatives that would resolve the crisis within dialogue among all Libyan parties," Al-Sallak said.

The spokesman's remarks came a day after the London-based Asharq Al-Awsat newspaper reported that the Prime Minister Fayez Serraj had made an offer to army commander Khalifa Haftar to share power and end the military escalation between the two parties.

According to the newspaper, the offer was rejected by Haftar.

Libya remains politically divided between authorities in the east and the west, despite a UN-sponsored political agreement signed by the Libyan parties. Enditem