France reaffirms support for Libya unity govt

France on Tuesday reaffirmed its “full support” for Libya’s unity government, seeking to mend fences after the interim leader demanded an explanation for the presence of French troops in the east of the conflict-ridden country.
Fayez al-Sarraj, head of the Government of National Accord (GNA), had last Monday told French ambassador Antoine Sivan that their presence was a “violation of international customs” and “unacceptable interference”.
He was speaking a few days after France’s President Francois Hollande confirmed that his country had soldiers in Libya, after three French troops were killed there during an intelligence-gathering mission.
French Prime Minister Jean-Marc Ayrault spoke to Sarraj by telephone to “renew the full support of France to the national unity government acting to unify Libya and restore its institutions”, the French foreign ministry said on Tuesday.
France recognises the GNA but also supports forces that are loyal to a parliament and government based in the country’s east that are refusing to recognise and cede power to the UN-backed administration.
Ayrault “reaffirmed France’s wish to reinforce its co-operation with this [Tripoli-based] government in all domains, starting with security and the fight against terrorism,” the ministry said in a statement.