Putin, Qatari emir hold phone conversation over Libyan crisis

Russian President Vladimir Putin and Qatari Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani discussed the situation in Libya during a phone conversation, the Kremlin said Saturday.

The two leaders "had a thorough exchange of opinions on the situation in Libya with due account of agreements reached in Istanbul on January 8," it said in a statement.

The two sides also spoke in favor of the cessation of hostilities and initiating a peaceful settlement of the conflict, the statement said.

On Wednesday, Putin and his Turkish counterpart Recep Tayyip Erdogan agreed on a common stance on Libya and urged to establish a ceasefire in Libya starting midnight on Jan. 12.

Libya has been locked in a civil war since the fall of former leader Muammar Gaddafi in 2011.

Several armed militias of different backgrounds have emerged, and have been fighting each other to take power, although a peace deal was signed by the warring parties on Dec. 17, 2015 in the Moroccan city of Skhirat.