Qatar’s FM calls for arms embargo against eastern Libyan commander Haftar

Qatar’s foreign minister has called for an arms embargo against eastern Libyan commander Khalifa Haftar and for his troops to withdraw from areas they have occupied. Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman al-Thani also told Italian daily La Repubblica in an interview published on Tuesday that he was pleased to be told by his French counterpart that Paris was working to ensure a planned national reconciliation conference on Libya goes ahead. Egypt and the UAE are considered main supporters of Haftar, who has built his position battling Islamist militants and other opponents in eastern Libya. East Libyan authorities say Qatar backs rival, Islamist-leaning factions in western Libya, Reuters said.