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| Libya conflict: Turkey sends troops to shore up UN-backed government | Libya conflict: Turkey sends troops to shore up UN-backed government |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has said troops have begun moving into Libya after parliament approved the move last week. | Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has said troops have begun moving into Libya after parliament approved the move last week. |
| He said their mission was to ensure stability for the UN-backed Government of National Accord (GNA) in Tripoli. | He said their mission was to ensure stability for the UN-backed Government of National Accord (GNA) in Tripoli. |
| The Libyan government is fighting an insurgency by rebel forces under Gen Khalifa Haftar, based in eastern Libya. | The Libyan government is fighting an insurgency by rebel forces under Gen Khalifa Haftar, based in eastern Libya. |
| Gen Haftar is backed by Egypt and the UAE, while the UN-backed government is supported by Turkey and its ally Qatar. | Gen Haftar is backed by Egypt and the UAE, while the UN-backed government is supported by Turkey and its ally Qatar. |
| Rebel forces have been trying to capture Tripoli and were blamed for an air strike on a military academy on Saturday that killed at least 30 people. They denied any involvement. | Rebel forces have been trying to capture Tripoli and were blamed for an air strike on a military academy on Saturday that killed at least 30 people. They denied any involvement. |
| "Our soldiers' duty there is co-ordination. They will develop the operation centre there. Our soldiers are gradually going right now," President Erdogan told the CNN Turk TV channel. | "Our soldiers' duty there is co-ordination. They will develop the operation centre there. Our soldiers are gradually going right now," President Erdogan told the CNN Turk TV channel. |
| He said Turkey's objective was "not to fight" but "to support the legitimate government and avoid a humanitarian tragedy". | He said Turkey's objective was "not to fight" but "to support the legitimate government and avoid a humanitarian tragedy". |
| Israel, Greece and Cyprus had warned against any Turkish deployment. They called it a dangerous threat to regional stability, and warned that it breached a UN arms embargo. | Israel, Greece and Cyprus had warned against any Turkish deployment. They called it a dangerous threat to regional stability, and warned that it breached a UN arms embargo. |
| The UN Security Council is expected to meet behind closed doors on Monday to discuss the situation in Libya, AFP news agency reported, citing diplomats. | |
| MPs in Turkey approved the bill allowing the deployment of troops last Thursday with 325 in favour and 184 against. | |
| Mr Erdogan said Tripoli had requested military assistance. | Mr Erdogan said Tripoli had requested military assistance. |
| The Turkish government has given no details about the scale of the military deployment. | The Turkish government has given no details about the scale of the military deployment. |
| Libya has been torn by violence since long-time ruler Muammar Gaddafi was deposed and killed in 2011 by Nato-backed forces. | Libya has been torn by violence since long-time ruler Muammar Gaddafi was deposed and killed in 2011 by Nato-backed forces. |
| The country has two rival administrations, one based in Tripoli and the other in the eastern city of Tobruk. | The country has two rival administrations, one based in Tripoli and the other in the eastern city of Tobruk. |