Russian FM hosts speaker of Libya's east-based parliament

Russia's top diplomat met Friday with speaker of parliament based in eastern Libya to discuss a political settlement for conflict-stricken country.

Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said at start of his talks with parliament speaker Aguila Saleh that Moscow supports a cease-fire proposal brokered by Egypt last month. He emphasized that Russia will reach out to all parties in Libya to help encour a political settlement.

“Russia has proceeded from assumption that Libyan conflict has military solution, and only Libyans mselves could settle ir differences by political means," Lavrov said.

Libya was plunged into chaos following a NATO-backed uprising that toppled longtime dictator Moammar Ghafi in 2011. country has been split between a government in east allied with military commander Khalifa Hifter and ar one in Tripoli in west supported by United Nations.

Hifter has been backed by Egypt, Russia, France and United Arab Emirates, while Tripoli-allied militias have been aided by Turkey, Qatar and Italy.

Last year, Hifter’s forces launched an offensive trying to capture Tripoli, clashing with an array of militias loosely allied with government re, but attack has failed. After making ir way deep into west and fighting in suburbs of Libyan capital, Hifter’s forces were driven back by Tripoli-based fighters supported by Turkey.