CAIRO, July 5 (Xinhua) -- Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah al-Sisi on Saturday reaffirmed the importance of reaching a comprehensive political settlement in Libya to run the long-delayed elections, according to an Egyptian presidency statement.
Sisi made the remarks during a meeting with Aguila Saleh, speaker of Libya's eastern-based House of Representatives, where they discussed recent developments in the country.
Sisi reiterated Egypt's support for Libya's national institutions, emphasizing the importance of preserving the country's sovereignty and unity. He also stressed the need for the withdrawal of all foreign forces to enable Libyan institutions to stabilize the country.
Saleh thanked Egypt for backing Libyan unity and institutions, calling it essential for restoring peace and moving toward elections.
Libya has been in turmoil since the 2011 ouster of Muammar Gaddafi. The country remains split between the UN-recognized Government of National Unity in Tripoli and an eastern administration backed by the House of Representatives and Khalifa Haftar's Libyan National Army.
A UN-backed presidential election scheduled for December 2021 was postponed due to disputes over election laws and candidate eligibility, deepening the political crisis. ■
