Libya summons French ambassador over military presence

Libya summons French ambassador over military presence

Ambassador Antoine Sivan, who is based in neighboring Tunisia for security reasons, is expected to go to Libya in the coming days to respond to the summons, according to a French diplomatic official, media sources report.

The sources further report that the official said Sunday that France is focused on supporting the unity government, and encouraging Libyan forces to work together to fight extremists. The official was not authorized to be publicly named.

Three French officers were killed last week in eastern Libya, and the French government acknowledged that special forces are operating there as part of Western efforts to support the unity government.

Libya fell into chaos after Western airstrikes – including by France – drove out dictator Muammar Gaddafi in 2011.