Merkel welcomes Macron ahead of Berlin conference on Libya

German Chancellor Angela Merkel on Sunday welcomed French President Emmanuel Macron in Berlin, ahead of the start of an international conference on the crisis in Libya.

Germany is bringing together the key players in the long-running civil war in a bid to curb foreign military meddling, solidify a ceasefire and help relaunch a political process to determine the nation’s future.

Merkel has invited leaders from 12 countries, as well as the United Nations, the European Union, the African Union and the Arab League, to Sunday’s summit at the chancellery in Berlin.

Germany’s months-long diplomatic drive seeks to bolster efforts to stop the fighting in Libya by UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres and his envoy for Libya, Ghassan Salame.

Among those expected to attend are not only Macron, but also the presidents of Russia and Turkey, as well as the prime ministers of Italy and the UK, and the US secretary of state.

Other countries invited are the United Arab Emirates, Egypt, Algeria and China.

Libya's two main rival leaders: Prime Minister Fayez Sarraj and General Khalifa Hifter are both expected to attend the conference too, according to German government officials.