CAIRO, May 21 (Xinhua) -- The foreign ministers of Egypt, Tunisia, and Algeria met in Cairo on Thursday to push for an end to Libya's long-running crisis, calling for a political solution led by Libyans themselves and free from foreign interference.
The three countries, among Libya's most important neighbors, issued a joint statement urging the advancement of a UN-sponsored political process to unify Libyan state institutions and end divisions. They also called for presidential and parliamentary elections to be held as soon as possible.
The top diplomats stressed that any political process must be Libyan-led and based on the consensus of all factions without exclusion.
Expressing concern over ongoing violence and political assassinations, the ministers urged all Libyan parties to exercise maximum restraint and avoid escalation.
They also rejected all forms of foreign interference, calling it a key driver of tensions, and demanded the withdrawal of all foreign forces, fighters, and mercenaries within a defined timeframe.
Algeria will host the next trilateral meeting, though no date has been set.
Libya has remained fragmented and unstable since the 2011 NATO-backed uprising that toppled longtime ruler Muammar Gaddafi.
The country is split between two rival administrations: the internationally recognized Government of National Unity, based in Tripoli, and an eastern administration backed by the Libyan National Army under commander Khalifa Haftar. ■
