Pompeo, UK Counterpart Discuss Efforts To Achieve Ceasefire In Libya - State Department

WASHINGTON (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 20th April, 2019) US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and UK Foreign Secretary Jeremy Hunt discussed by phone on Friday the commitment by their countries to achieve a ceasefire in the Libyan conflict and a return to the political process, Department of State spokesperson Morgan Ortagus said in a press release.

"On Libya, the Secretary and Foreign Secretary reaffirmed their commitment to continue diplomatic efforts to achieve a freeze on the ground and a return to the political process," Ortagus said in the release.

Pompeo and Hunt also discussed the conflict in Yemen and agreed that all warring parties must commit to the commitments made in Sweden to allow the political process to develop, Ortagus said.

Earlier on Friday, the White House said US President Donald Trump and commander of the Libyan National Army (LNA) Khalifa Haftar spoke this week about the ongoing LNA offensive on the capital Tripoli and the surrounding areas.

Haftar ordered an offensive to retake Tripoli from Libya's internationally-recognized Government of National Accord (GNA)-backed forces. The LNA has already recaptured a number of settlements on its way to the capital, including the Tripoli International Airport. The forces loyal to the GNA announced a counteroffensive on Sunday, dubbed Volcano of Rage, to repel the LNA.