Turkey denounces Libya PM's critical remarks as ‘hostile’
Turkey has warned Libya’s internationally recognized Prime Minister Abdullah al-Thinni to avoid making “irresponsible” and “hostile” remarks after he accused Ankara of meddling in Libyan domestic affairs.
“We expect interim [Libyan] government officials to revise their irresponsible attitude toward our country and avoid hostile and groundless statements,” said an official statement by Turkey’s Foreign Ministry on Thursday.
The development came after the Libyan premier accused Ankara of interference in his country’s internal affairs in a Wednesday interview with the London-based Asharq al-Awsat newspaper.
Asked about the involvement of foreign countries in backing terrorist groups in Libya, Thinni pointed to the Turkish role and said, “What is coming from Turkey has a negative impact on the security and stability of Libya.”
During the interview, Thinni also said his government could expel Turkish companies from the North African country if Ankara did not halt its alleged meddling.
The Turkish Foreign Ministry statement further warned the interim Libyan government that Ankara would be obliged to take “appropriate measures” if such allegations continue.
Turkey in January advised all its citizens in Libya to leave due to the deteriorating security situation in the conflict-ridden country.
Libya has two rival governments vying for control of the country, with one faction controlling Tripoli, and the other, Libya’s internationally recognized government, ruling over the cities of Bayda and Tobruk.
The Libyan government and elected parliament moved to the eastern city of Tobruk after an armed group based in the northwestern city of Misrata seized Tripoli and most government institutions in August 2014.
Libya plunged into chaos following a 2011 uprising against the dictatorship of Muammar Gaddafi. The ouster of Gaddafi gave rise to a patchwork of heavily-armed militias and deep political divisions.
The country has been witnessing numerous clashes between government forces and rival militia groups, which refuse to lay down arms.
Battles among the rival militants, who had participated in the anti-Gaddafi uprising, are mainly over the control of oil facilities in eastern Libya.
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