Turkish president meets Libya's UN-backed gov't leader in Istanbul

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Saturday met with the head of Libya's UN-recognized government in Istanbul, Turkey's Directorate of Communications said.

Erdogan received Fayez al-Serraj, prime minister of the Government of National Accord (GNA), in Vahdettin Mansion on the Asian side of the city behind closed doors, the directorate announced in a written statement.

Earlier in the day, the Turkish president also held a phone conversation with Italian Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte, focusing on the developments in Libya, according to the directorate.

Erdogan and Conte agreed to maintain dialogue for a political solution in the North African country, it added.

Libya has been torn by a raging civil war, between the GNA based in the capital Tripoli and the Libyan National Army and its allies based in the east.

Turkey supports the GNA both politically and militarily, deploying its troops in Libya to train and advise forces loyal to al-Serraj.