US Ambassador to Libya Richard Norland held talks with parliament Speaker of the east-based parliament, Aquila Saleh, on the importance of "respect for democratic processes and the need to avoid individual attempts to unilaterally dictate Libya’s political future using armed force."
"They agreed that there is no military solution in Libya, on rejecting an approach of imposing facts on the ground, and on the importance of continuing" negotiations facilitated by the UN mission to Libya, read a US embassy statement after the talks on Thursday.
Saleh congratulated Norland on the confidence placed in him by the United States and noted the importance of shared and constructive engagement between Libya and Washington.
They also discussed the Berlin Conference and the need for all participants to live up to their commitments not to interfere militarily in Libya. Saleh noted in his initiative that the time has come to end infighting among Libyans. Norland highlighted the importance of counter-terrorism and the risk that continued conflict will open space for terrorist elements to regroup across the country, added the statement.
Regarding the Libyan National Army's call for a Ramadan ceasefire, Norland expressed the hope that "building on that statement, the parties could take serious steps for the future of Libyans and return to negotiations under UN auspices for a lasting ceasefire in the 5+5 format, as agreed in Geneva on February 23."
The envoy said Washington encourages all voices genuinely committed to peace and stability in Libya to take part in shaping the country’s political future, and congratulated Saleh on his involvement in this process and its continuation, stressed the statement.
Sources close to Saleh said he may soon meet with LNA commander Khalifa Haftar over an iftar meal. He had on Friday shared iftar with one of his sons.
On Wednesday, the speaker revealed during a local meeting that the "Russians had asked from Haftar to accept a humanitarian truce" in Libya because the situation in the country is "on the verge of collapse".
Leaked details from the meeting showed Saleh discussing a Russian report that spoke of the possibility of the war moving on to a "new phase". He noted that Turkish F-16 jets had struck LNA supply convoys headed to Tarhuna, 90 kilometers east of the capital, Tripoli.
Saleh, who had denied the existence of differences between him and Haftar, added that the Russians also requested the restructuring of the Presidential Council, currently headed by Government of National Accord chief Fayez al-Sarraj. Moscow also demanded a ceasefire in the fighting for Tripoli in line with the Berlin Conference and its call for forming a new Presidential Council.
Moreover, Saleh spoke of Russian information that the UN may likely reaffirm its support for Sarraj's Presidential Council, which was formed in 2015.
On the ground, the GNA announced that its jets had struck a convoy carrying LNA fighters near Nasma. This was the fourth such attack in 24 hours.
A GNA spokesman rejected the LNA's declaration of Ramadan truce, saying: "We do not have a partner for peace."
"Our forces have the right to defend themselves against threats wherever they may be," he stressed.
The LNA had obtained information that the GNA, backed by Turkey, was seeking to launch a major military operation against the army in western Libya.
Unconfirmed reports said a Turkish warship had anchored off Gasr Garabulli, 49 kms east of Tripoli.
The LNA, meanwhile, said it had downed a Turkish drone east of Tripoli shortly after it took off from the Mitiga base.
