France blocks EU call to stop Haftar's offensive in Libya

The draft statement, seen by Reuters, would have said that the military attack launched by Haftar on Tripoli was "endangering the civilian population, disrupting the political process and risks further escalation with serious consequences for Libya and the wider region, including the terrorist threat." Thousands of residents fled on Wednesday as Haftar's forces - called the Libyan National Army (LNA) - and troops loyal to the Tripoli government battled on the outskirts of Libya's capital. France and Italy disagree on how to handle the latest escalation in the troubled north African country. France, which has oil assets in eastern Libya, has provided military assistance in past years to Haftar in his eastern stronghold, Libyan and French officials say.. Italy, the former colonial power and a big player in Libya's oil sector, has supported the U.N.-backed Prime Minister Fayez al-Serraj.

from Yahoo News - Latest News & Headlines https://yhoo.it/2Z2dNKe