French President Emmanuel Macron encouraged Turkey and Russia to withdraw their mercenaries from Libya "as soon as possible," according to Agence France Presse (AFP).
Macron made the comments during a conference in Paris for world leaders and diplomats to help Libya prepare for elections in December.
After Muammar Gaddafi's overthrow in 2011, Libya has been engulfed in a civil conflict. Since the forces of eastern-based military leader Khalifa Haftar launched an attack to capture control of the city in 2019, Turkey has deployed troops and Syrian mercenaries to fight alongside Tripoli militias.
According to Macron, one of the conference's resolutions was the formulation of a strategy for the withdrawal of mercenaries from Libya. He further stated that 300 mercenaries had already left the oil-rich North African nation.
"Turkey and Russia should immediately withdraw their mercenaries from Libya," Macron said, adding that such forces "threaten the stability and security of Libya and the region."
Turkey has rejected French President Emmanuel Macron's appeal for international powers to withdraw their military from Libya.
On Saturday, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoan's spokesperson, Brahim Kaln, told AFP that emphasising a speedy army pullout was "wrong."
"Our military presence in Libya is to assist the Libyan army in training," he said, adding that the Turkish military presence would contribute to Libya's political stability and security.
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