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For the first time, Moscow says it supports a role for military chief Haftar in Libya’s leadership: Bloomberg 

December 28, 2016 at 5:32 am

Russia announced on Tuesday that it supports a role for retired army general Khalifa Haftar in ruling the country. Haftar is the military chief for the Tobruk-based parliament in eastern Libya, according to Bloomberg.

Bloomberg quoted Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Gennady Gatilov as saying that Haftar is “doing a lot to fight Islamic State terrorists and help the government restore control of oil production.”

“We believe that the Libyans have to find a compromise on his participation in the new Libyan leadership,” the Russian official said.

Gatilov criticized the UN envoy to Libya, Martin Kobler, over his policy that allegedly supports the Tripoli government, which has been in a standoff with Haftar.

Kobler’s policy has hindered the attainment of a political settlement in Libya, the Russian official added, according to Bloomberg.