Moscow to host meeting of Libya’s rival leaders

The Russian Foreign Ministry says Libya’s rival leaders will meet in Moscow Monday for peace talks.

The ministry said that Fayez al Sarraj, the head of Libya’s U.N.--recognized government in Tripoli, and his rival Khalifa Hifter will hold talks in the Russian capital.

The meeting follows a truce proposed by Russia and Turkey that began Sunday — the first break in fighting in months.

The truce came as Libya’s civil war was on the brink of a major escalation. Various foreign players back Libya’s two rival governments, and they have recently been stepping up their involvement in the oil-rich nation’s conflict.

The eastern government is supported by France, Russia, Jordan, the United Arab Emirates and other key Arab countries.

Turkey, Italy and Qatar support the Tripoli government.

Turkey’s foreign and defense ministers are scheduled to hold talks with their Russian counterparts in Moscow on Monday as part of a shared effort to mediate a peace deal.