World powers call for end of foreign meddling in Libya

BERLIN - World leaders attending the Libya Conference in Berlin on Sunday called for the end of foreign meddling in the Libyan conflict, pledging to set up a follow-up committee to oversee the outcomes of the conference, according to a draft communique.

Senior leaders of major world powers and other countries concerned got together in Berlin on Sunday to find a peaceful solution to the conflict in Libya. Representatives from the United Nations (UN), European Union (EU), African Union and the Arab League, and leaders of warring factions -- Khalifa Haftar, commander of the east-based Libyan National Army, and Fayez al-Sarraj, head of the UN-recognized government in Libya -- also attended the conference.

"We reaffirm our strong commitment to the sovereignty, independence, territorial integrity and national unity of Libya. Only a Libyan-led and Libyan-owned political process can end the conflict and bring lasting peace," stated the draft communique.

"We call on all actors to refrain from any activities exacerbating the conflict or inconsistent with the UNSC (UN Security Council) arms embargo or the ceasefire, including the financing of military capabilities or the recruitment of mercenaries," read the draft communique.

According to the draft communique, parties attending the conference called for credible, verifiable, sequenced and reciprocal steps, starting with a truce implemented by all parties concerned and leading to a comprehensive and lasting cessation of all hostilities including air operations over the territory of Libya.

"The cessation of hostilities shall furthermore include the redeployment of heavy weapons, artillery and aerial vehicles and their cantonment and the termination of all military movements by, or in direct support of, the conflict parties, in and over the entire territory of Libya, starting from the beginning of the ceasefire process," explained the draft communique.

"We herewith create an International Follow-Up Committee (IFC) to oversee the implementation of the Berlin conference outcomes, under the auspices of the United Nations and without prejudice to the mandate of the UN Security Council," the draft communique noted.