Egypt's FM Stresses Need to Exit All Foreign Forces & Mercenaries from Libya

On Sunday, the Egyptian Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry called for concerted international efforts to get mercenaries, foreign forces and foreign fighters out of Libya.

During a joint press conference in Cairo with his Latvian counterpart Edgars Rinkēvičs, Shoukry said that the presence of militias, foreign forces and mercenaries in Libya restricts the freedom of the Libyan people to determine their future.

Shoukry also stressed the importance of holding of general elections in Libya on schedule. He affirmed the need to reach a Libyan-Libyan solution away from foreign interference.

The Egyptian top diplomat said that the outcomes of the solution to the Libyan crisis in international conferences must be taken care of. He also stressed the need to take into account the decisions of the Libyan House of Representatives regarding the executive authority.

It is worth noting that the Libyan House of Representatives has appointed Fathi Bashagha to replace the outgoing Prime Minister of the outgoing Government of National Unity, Abdul-Hamid al-Dbaiba. However, al-Dbaiba refuses to cede the power to Bashagha.

"The Libyan parties are meeting in Cairo to discuss consensus on a constitutional framework that will enable the Libyan people to hold presidential and legislative elections and maintain Libya's stability," according to Shoukri.