Neighbors Urge Dialogue to End Libya Turmoil

Libya's neighbors called Monday for dialogue in the North African nation, which has been wracked by violence since the 2011 overthrow of Moammar Gadhafi that has intensified since a controversial June election.

The six governments agreed to set up twin commissions to broker talks and attempt to prevent any spillover of the unrest from the key oil producer, which remains awash with weapons from the NATO-backed uprising against the longtime dictator.

Delegates from Algeria, Chad, Egypt, Niger, Sudan and Tunisia urged "all parties ... in Libya to resolve their differences through dialogue," at meeting in the Tunisian town of Hammamet.

They set up two commissions, the first of which will be chaired by Algeria and will be tasked with "examining the military and security issues, including border surveillance."

The other, which Egypt will be in charge of, is tasked with "contacting the political class and members of civil society in Libya" to facilitate the launching of a national dialogue.

The two commissions are to report back to the Tunisian foreign minister in the last week of July, who will then present them to his counterparts at the next meeting of Libya's neighbors.

Egypt has offered to host the meeting, during the first half of August.

Delegates underlined the need to "resolve (the problem of) pockets of terrorism in Libya, which are a source of concern for Libya and the countries in the immediate vicinity."

Eastern Libya, particularly its main city Benghazi and the hill town of Derna, have become strongholds of jihadist groups, made notorious by a 2012 attack on the U.S. consulate that killed the ambassador and three other Americans.

In a stark indication of the worsening violence in Libya, Foreign Minister Mohamed Abdelaziz, who had been due to join the talks, was unable to get to Tunisia after heavy fighting between rival militias forced the closure of Tripoli airport.

Libya's ambassador in Tunis took his place.

At least six people were killed in heavy exchanges of fire at Tripoli airport on Sunday, a health ministry official said.

"Libya is now practically cut off from the outside world," an airport official said, adding that a three-day suspension of all flights could be extended.

On July 6, Libya's electoral commission scrapped the results from 24 polling stations in the June 25 election to replace the controversial first post-Kadhafi parliament which was dominated by Islamists and accused of hogging power.

The fraud allegations have been accompanied by mounting violence between Islamist militias and their rivals.

Earlier on Monday, Libya suspended all flights to and from Misrata airport in the west a day after deadly clashes closed the country's main international airport in Tripoli.

An airport source in the capital said the decision to close the airport in third city Misrata was taken for "technical reasons".

"The headquarters for the entire western region is at Tripoli airport, and following its closure, Misrata airport also has to close," said the official, speaking on condition of anonymity, of the facility 200 kilometers (125 miles) to the west.

Tripoli international airport was shut down for three days on Sunday after the anti-Islamist Zintan militia that controls it came under attack, airport officials said.

At least six people were killed in heavy exchanges of fire, a health ministry official said.

"Libya is now practically cut off from the outside world," the airport source said, adding that the three-day closure of Tripoli airport may be extended.

There are now only two other airports operating, at Bayda and Tobruk in the east, the source said.

However, foreigners are banned from flying to the east of the country, under a government decision.

This decision was taken after renegade general Khalifa Haftar launched an offensive in main eastern city Benghazi against powerful Islamist militias in mid-May.

Sunday's Tripoli airport attack was claimed by Islamist militias determined to oust the Zintan group from key sites it controls in south of the capital, including the airport.

The attack was beaten off, but there were also clashes at other Zintan-controlled sites for several hours, especially on the road to the airport.

The situation on Monday was calm, despite fears of clashes breaking out again.

Libya has been awash with weapons since the NATO-backed uprising three years ago that toppled and killed veteran dictator Gadhafi.

The North African nation is plagued by growing lawlessness, while on the political front rival cabinets are jostling for power.

The embattled government has struggled to establish a strong army and police force, giving former rebel groups a free hand to act.

The mounting violence prompted the United Nations Support Mission in Libya to announce on Thursday that it was pulling out dozens of staff.

The well-armed and disciplined Zintan militia is officially under the jurisdiction of the defense ministry.

But it has sided with Haftar's well-armed forces, including air power, in his campaign to rid Libya of Islamist militias.