Libya's GNA head Sarraj poised to hold talks with French President Macron

In a bid to gather support in the European Union (EU) against Khalifa Haftar's offensive, Libya's UN-backed Government of National Accord (GNA), Fayez Sarraj, is poised to hold talks with French President Emmanuel Macron here on Wednesday. Libya has been largely divided into two factions ever since the death of dictator Muammar Gaddafi in 2011. Khalifa's Libyan National Army-backed parliament controlled the east of Libya, while the UN-backed interim GNA governs Libya's western region from Tripoli.

In early April, Haftar launched his offensive in order to gain control of Tripoli. Close to 400 people have lost their lives, while thousands have been displaced as LNA and GNA's forces clashed in the Libyan capital. Sarraj's latest negotiation is part of his tour around major European capitals to garner their support, as fighting continues in Tripoli, according to Sputnik. Sarraj held his first meeting with Italian Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte on Tuesday towards this. The UN-backed government leader will lay emphasis on the humanitarian situation and highlight efforts to bring the conflict in Libya to an end. 

(With inputs from agencies.)