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January 12, 2020

The two sides in the Libyan civil war mutually accused each other of breaking the internationally mediated ceasefire within hours of its entry into force. The BBC reports it online. After pressure from their supporters, Russia and Turkey, the ceasefire officially started at midnight today. But both the UN-backed government, the GNA, and forces loyal to General Khalifar Haftar say there has been fighting in the capital, Tripoli. Last week Turkey sent troops to help the government of national unity (Gna).

General Haftar is supported by Egypt, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and Jordan, suggesting that oil-rich Libya could become the scene of a regional conflict, or even a "second Syria". The forces of the Libyan national army (Lna), loyal to General Haftar, control much of eastern Libya. They launched an offensive on the capital in April 2019 but were unable to conquer the city.

Last week, however, they took the country's third largest city, Sirte. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin called for a ceasefire when they met in Istanbul last week.

Pro Haftar: some violations but the truce holds up
Some pro Haftar media also report violations of the ceasefire that entered into force since midnight in Libya after the Serraj government had reported violations of the truce. "Libyan national agreement government militias have violated tragedy on more than one front with all kinds of weapons, including artillery," Libyan National Army Al-Mabrouk Al-Gazawi told Libyan news site Al Marsad, while ensuring compliance with the ceasefire order.

Serraj in Istanbul, received by Erdogan
The Turkish president received Al Serraj at the Dolmabahce palace in Istanbul. Serraj, supported by Turkey both politically and militarily, arrived in the Bosphorus a few hours after the start of the ceasefire in Libya.