Crisis in Libya: Trump's address to General Haftar, insurgent

The White House said that President Trump had spoken with General Khalifa Haftar, commander of eastern Libya, whose forces are attacking the capital Tripoli.

During Monday's call, Trump acknowledged General Haftar's efforts to fight terrorism and secure Libyan oil. They discussed the future of Libya.

Tripoli is the seat of the Libyan government supported by the UN and recognized internationally.

The appeal of Mr. Trump suggests that he approves of General Haftar, unlike some of his allies.

More than 200 people have been killed since fighting began three weeks ago.

On Thursday, UN-backed Prime Minister Fayez al Serraj condemned the "silence" of his international allies in the midst of the badault on General Haftar's forces.

Libya has been torn apart by violence and political instability since longtime leader Muammar Gaddafi was deposed and killed in 2011.

• Why is Libya so anarchic?
• Who is the strong military man Khalifa Haftar?

The latest crisis began three weeks ago, when General Haftar's eastern forces fell on the capital in what Serraj called an attempted coup d'etat.

General Haftar's troops advance in different directions on the outskirts of the city and claim to have seized the Tripoli International Airport.

Does this mean that Trump supports Haftar?

During the interview between Mr. Trump and General Haftar, the two men "discussed a shared vision of Libya's transition to a stable and democratic political system," the White House said. .

According to Alan Johnston, BBC editor for the Middle East region, this call seems to indicate that Washington supports General Haftar and could see him as capable of restoring unity and order in the country. .

But the opponents of General Haftar say that he would rule the country in a very autocratic way, added our correspondent.

The United States, as well as Russia, also refused to support a United Nations Security Council resolution, drafted by the United Kingdom, calling for a ceasefire in Libya.

Russia has objected to the Haftar blockade being blamed for the violence while the United States has given no reason, Reuters reported.

General Haftar received support from the United Arab Emirates and Egypt and traveled to Saudi Arabia shortly before announcing his attack on Tripoli.

The UN-backed Tripoli government has also accused France of supporting General Haftar. France has denied this.

According to Reuters, Jalel Harchaoui, of the Clingendael Institute in The Hague, said that Trump 's appeal amounted to supporting General Haftar' s campaign and making it more likely that he would not be able to. military intervention of an external state such as Egypt.

Who supports the Tripoli government?

Former colonial power, Italy supports the internationally recognized government.

British Foreign Secretary Jeremy Hunt also said that there was "no justification" for General Haftar to move to Tripoli.

On Friday, Mr. Hunt met with US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo. The two countries agreed to "continue diplomatic efforts to achieve a freeze on the ground and a return to the political process," according to the state department.

Who is General Haftar?

A former army officer, he helped Colonel Gaddafi seize power in 1969 before he became embroiled with him and exiled to the United States.

He returned in 2011 after the start of the uprising against Gaddafi and became a rebel commander.

After the fall of Gaddafi, he was appointed head of the Libyan National Army (ANL) under a government previously backed by the UN.