EU official calls for de-escalation in Libya

By Yusuf Hatip</p> <p>BRUSSELS (AA) – EU foreign policy chief on Monday called on the Libyan leaders and military figures to reduce tension and return to the negotiation table.</p> <p>Federica Mogherini made a doorstep statement regarding the recent escalations in Libya before attending the EU Foreign Council meeting being held in Luxembourg.</p> <p>&quot;[Libyan parties] should avoid further military action and escalation and return to political negotiations and track,&quot; she said.</p> <p>She added that the civilians and wounded people should be evacuated from capital Tripoli, adding the recent escalations were &quot;increasingly worrying&quot;.</p> <p>On Thursday, east Libya-based commander Khalifa Haftar launched a military campaign to recapture Tripoli from the Government of National Accord (GNA) forces.</p> <p>Libya has remained beset by turmoil since 2011, when a NATO-backed uprising led to the ouster and death of President Muammar Gaddafi after four decades in power.</p> <p>Since then, the country’s stark political divisions have yielded two rival seats of power: one in the eastern city of Al-Bayda, to which Haftar is linked, and another in Tripoli. </p> <p> </p> <p>* Writing by Ali Murat Alhas