U.S. welcomes Egyptian initiative for political settlement in Libya

The U.S. Embassy to Libya on Saturday welcomed the Egyptian initiative for a political settlement between Libya's UN-backed government and the eastern-based army.

"The United States is watching with interest as political voices in the east of Libya find expression. We look forward to seeing these voices incorporated into a genuine nationwide political dialogue immediately following the resumption of the UNSMIL-hosted 5+5 talks on the modalities of a cease-fire," the embassy said in a statement.

"We welcome efforts by Egypt and others to support a return to the UN-led political negotiations and the declaration of a cease-fire," the statement said.

Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah al-Sisi announced on Saturday the Cairo Declaration for a political settlement in the neighboring war-torn Libya following his talks in Cairo with Libyan eastern-based military leader Khalifa Haftar.

Cairo Declaration seeks cease-fire between warring Libyan parties starting from June 8, a UN-supervised election of a Libyan presidential council and drafting a constitutional declaration to regulate elections for the later stage.

(XINHUA)