Eastern warlord Khalifa Haftar "is no longer a partner in any political solution" to the conflict in Libya, its internationally recognised premier Fayez al-Sarraj said on Wednesday during talks in Rome with his Italian counterpart Giuseppe Conte.
In a statement posted to the Libyan Presidential Council's Facebook page, Sarraj expressed "appreciation" for Italy's stance over the "aggression" of Haftar's five-and-a-half-month-old military assault on Tripoli.
Sarraj and his government are "determined to defeat this aggression and end the (Haftar's) project for military rule," Sarraj underlined.
During their meeting, Conte and Sarraj also discussed "the latest developments in Libya and other topics of common interest," said the statement.
Conte reiterated Italy's view that there can be no military solution to the deadly conflict and said his country "is determined to find a political solution to strengthen ties with Libya," the statement noted.
Italy is seeking to play a leading role in international diplomatic efforts to end the protracted turmoil in its oil-rich former colony, where it has extensive energy interests.
A planned international conference on Libya that will be hosted by Germany will be high on the agenda at Conte's meeting with France's president Emmanuel Macron later on Wednesday, which is also expected to focus on migration among other issues.
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