Libya’s Haftar refuses invite to Tunisia

The head of the Libyan army, Khalifa Haftar, has reportedly refused an invitation to meet with Tunisia’s president accusing Tunis of aligning itself with Tripoli-based government and the Muslim Brotherhood.

Read: Tunisia keeps the same distance from all Libyan parties, insists president

President Béji Caïd Essebsi initiated an invitation to the military strongman but received no reply. Hafter reportedly rejected the offer because he considered the Tunisian government hostile to the powers in Tobruk represented by the House of Representatives and the Libyan National Army, according to the Tunisian daily Alchourouk.

Image of Libyan military chief Khalifa Haftar

Essebsi’s invite comes in an effort to involve Haftar in talks with all Libyan players mediated by Tunisia along with Algeria and Egypt in the last few weeks.

There has been no formal response from Tunisia following Haftar’s refusal or an acknowledgment from Haftar’s representatives on a Tunisian invitation received.