Libya is receiving "great solidarity" from Italy, which is striving to help stabilise the country and end its eight-year conflict, the internationally recognised government's deputy premier said on Tuesday.
"There great solidarity on Italy's side," Ahmed Maitig told members of the foreign press association in Rome after talks with Matteo Salvini, Italy's deputy prime minister and interior minister.
"Salvini showed strong support for the peace process," Maitig said.
Maitig played down differences between Italy and France, which continues to view Libya's eastern military strongman Khalifa Haftar as the best bet to end the warfare that has gripped Libya since the Nato-backed ouster of late dictator Muammar Gaddafi in 2011.
"I believe it is the whole of Europe's interest to see a democratic, peaceful Libya," he stated.
"I spoke to the French ambassador a few days ago and Paris supports the (UN-backed) Government of National Accord," Maitig claimed.
Italy's premier Giuseppe Conte, who Maitig met on Monday, afterwards urged Haftar to withdraw his Libyan National Army militia from Tripoli, Maitig noted.
A total 174 people have been killed and over 750 have been injured in fighting between Haftar's forces and those loyal to the GNA since Haftar ordered the LNA to enter Tripoli earlier this month, while some 18,000 have fled their homes, according to the UN.
