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MOSCOW Russia said on Friday that it expected the head of the U.N.-backed Libyan government, Prime Minister Fayez al-Sarraj, to visit Moscow this month, the latest sign of Russia's desire to play a greater role in the divided country.

Maria Zakharova, a spokeswoman for the Foreign Ministry, told a news briefing that Russia was trying to help ensure Libya held together as a single country and wanted competing factions to resolve their differences through talks, not violence.

"We are carrying out consistent work with both centers of power in Libya," said Zakharova. "We are trying to encourage them to overcome their internal differences and seek compromises on all contentious questions."

Last month, Russia welcomed Khalifa Haftar, a prominent commander in eastern Libya, on board one of its warships.

Haftar, who visited Moscow last year, is a figurehead for east Libyan factions who harbors national ambitions, and his renewed engagement with Russia comes at a time when the U.N.-supported government in Tripoli that he has shunned is once more in crisis.

Western officials see the U.N.-backed government as a way to stabilize Libya, which has been caught in fighting and rivalry among competing armed factions since the 2011 civil war that toppled veteran leader Muammar Gaddafi.

Opponents of Haftar, head of the self-styled Libyan National Army (LNA), worry that his engagement with Russia is an attempt to challenge the fragile U.N.-backed government.

An official and a military source said on Wednesday that around 70 of Haftar's soldiers had been sent to Russia for treatment, in one of the first overt signs of cooperation between Moscow and one of Libya's armed factions.

(Reporting by Andrew Osborn and Maria Tsvetkova; Editing by Kevin Liffey)

TOKYO U.S. President Donald Trump's defense secretary on Friday reaffirmed America's commitment to its mutual defense treaty with Japan during a meeting with Prime Minister Shinzo Abe in Tokyo.

SEOUL U.S. President Donald Trump's defense secretary warned North Korea on Friday of an "effective and overwhelming" response if it chose to use nuclear weapons, as he reassured South Korea of steadfast U.S. support.

WASHINGTON The Trump administration said on Thursday that Israel's building of new settlements or expansion of existing ones in occupied territories may not be helpful in achieving peace with Palestinians, adopting a more measured tone than its previous pro-Israel announcements.

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Russia expects Libyan PM Sarraj to visit Moscow this month - Reuters

The Secretary General of NATO, Jens Stoltenberg, said Wednesday that they are prepared to offer assistance for establishing a modern ministry of defense, a joint military staff, and security and intelligence services under civilian control, if requested by Libyan officials.

In a joint presser with the Head of the UN-proposed governments Presidential Council, Fayez Al-Sirraj at the NATO premises in Brussels, Stolenberg added that the offer for Libya could be another successive model similar to those NATO conducted in Bosnia and Afghanistan.

NATO stands ready to assist Libya in building effective security and defense institutions, strengthening your ability to fight terrorism and create conditions for peace. Said Stolenberg.

On the other side, Al-Sirraj indicated that his government is willing to work with the NATO to help restore peace, security and stability in Libya.

NATO is well-versed in the issues of military and security and it can influence our institutions after the recent division and fragmentation in Libya over the political stalemate. It also can build a united military body that would fight the joint enemy, terrorism. Al-Sirraj explained.

Al-Sirraj did not rule out NATOs assistance in the improvement of Libyas military performance and the Navy, especially in terrorism and illegal immigration as well as smuggling.

If requested, the Alliance could also support the efforts of the European Union to strengthen the Libyan Coast Guard and Navy. Stolenberg remarked, while Al-Sirraj commented that the step is very likely to take place if a joint force with the Libyans was formed.

Because NATO can develop the capabilities of the Libyan Navy, Al-Sirraj concluded.

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NATO Secretary General: We're ready to place Libya under civilian control - The Libya Observer

German navy sailors reach a migrants boat off the coast of Libya in March 2016. Photograph: Matthias Schrader/AP

Libyas UN-backed prime minister, Fayez al-Serraj, has said Nato or EU ships could be permitted to operate in Libyan waters alongside the national military coastguard to slow the flow of people-smuggling across the Mediterranean.

The move came as a report claimed elements of the Libyan coastguard were complicit in the smuggling and said returning anyone caught on boats to coastal detention centres was risky since conditions there were horrendous.

Serrajs comments after talks at Nato on Wednesday will be a boost to EU plans to move its anti-smuggling mission Operation Sophia into Libyan waters to help prevent migrants from reaching Europe. The EU is due to discuss a comprehensive plan for Libya at a special heads of state summit on Friday.

If there is something to be carried out jointly between the Libyan navy and any other party interested in extending a hand to the Libyan navy, that would be possible, Serraj said.

Of course, we have to modernise our navy flotilla and enhance its capacities. Nato or any other friendly nation on a bilateral basis could extend a hand in this.

Smugglers boats currently can only be turned back to Libya if they are stopped inside Libyan waters, but both Nato and the EU need Libyan government consent to operate inside its sovereign waters. This year tens of thousands of migrants will face the risk of drowning while the smugglers networks benefit from the political chaos in Libya.

Serraj, struggling to gain authority inside Libya, is under pressure not to be seen to be succumbing excessively to outsiders.

On Wednesday Italy pledged 200m (170m) in funds to several African countries as part of its drive to reduce migration at source. The foreign minister, Angelino Alfano, said the fund aimed at Niger, Libya and Tunisia would help bolster the fight against human trafficking and illegal migration.

He said Europe was not trying to build a wall but helping countries to reduce the incentive to migrate.

A report by the Clingendael Institute, a Dutch thinktank, drawing on first-hand research, said migrants intercepted or rescued at sea by the Libyan coastguard were sent to detention centres where they often spend months languishing with no legal recourse, subject to the whims of their jailers.

It said some smugglers tortured migrants to secure the release of more money from their families, or forced them to work in order to continue their journey. Moreover, migrants are reportedly sold to criminal groups if they cannot pay for their voyage across the Mediterranean: for 15,000 they were sold to groups, mostly Egyptians, who are involved in removing and selling organs. Finally, based on self-reporting by migrants, up to 40% of migrants are forced on to boats.

The report added: Particularly in the northwestern part of Libya, migration is accompanied with absurdly high levels of crime and violence, and migrants are subject to the whims of the group that controls the area they are in. The line between smuggling and trafficking runs thin here, as cases of kidnapping, torture, sexual violence and killings are widespread, and the situation in and around detention centres for immigration is horrific.

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Libya may allow EU ships to pursue people-smugglers in its waters - The Guardian

BENGHAZI, Libya Around 70 soldiers from the forces of powerful Libyan commander Khalifa Haftar have been sent to Russia for treatment, in one of the first overt signs of cooperation between Moscow and one of Libya's armed factions, an official and a military source said.

Opponents of Haftar, head of the self-styled Libyan National Army (LNA) based in the east of the country, worry that his engagement with Russia is an attempt to challenge the fragile U.N.-supported government in Tripoli, which he has shunned.

Western officials see the U.N.-backed Government of National Accord (GNA) as a way to stabilize Libya, which has been caught in fighting and rivalries among competing armed factions since the 2011 civil war that toppled veteran leader Muammar Gaddafi.

An official from Haftar's forces' committee for the wounded said the fighters had left for Russia via Egypt, but did not provide any details.

A military source confirmed the transfer of 70 patients by plane from Benina airport in Benghazi to Egypt, from where they were taken to Russia. The source said this would not be the last such operation for LNA wounded.

Haftar, whose forces have been fighting against an alliance of Islamist militants and former rebels in Benghazi for two years, enjoys close ties to Egypt and the United Arab Emirates. He has cultivated his friendship with Russia, visiting Moscow twice last year to ask for military aid.

Haftar, a one-time ally of Gaddafi who returned to join the uprising in 2011, has largely shunned attempts to shore up the U.N.-mediated peace deal. He accuses the government of aligning itself with some of the country's Islamist-leaning forces.

(Reporting by Ayman Al-Warfalli; writing by Patrick Markey; Editing by Mark Trevelyan)

BEIRUT Syria's main opposition body said on Wednesday it would be "unacceptable" for the United Nations to choose opposition delegates to the next round of peace talks in Geneva planned for this month.

AMONA, West Bank Rightist protesters scuffled with Israeli police carrying out a court order to evict settlers from an illegal outpost in the occupied West Bank on Wednesday, hours after the government announced more construction in larger settlements.

PARIS France's Francois Fillon accused his opponents in the government on Wednesday of fomenting a scandal in an attempt to scuttle his presidential campaign, as a new poll showed him no longer favorite to win power.

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Eastern Libya forces fly wounded to Russia in growing cooperation - Reuters

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Tripoli-based Attorney Generals Office opened an investigation into the floating dock Gaza that started operating recently and was said to have cost the government 700 million dollars. Following orders from the Attorney Generals Office, Special Deterrent Force in Tripoli have started listing all those who were tied to the contract and implementation of the project.

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The head of the fuel and gas crisis committee Milad Al-Hajrasi, said that security personnel arrested a number of gas cylinders distribution centers owners for selling the cylinders in the black market, which led to escalating the juncture. He added that the shortage has been contained as gas cylinders are available in all centers with the official pricing.

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GECOL said that it is aiming at executing the Smart Meters project a pre-paid meters project so that it can improve the electricity network.

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The Turkish Cooperation and Coordination Agency Directorate (TIKA) sent six tons of medicines and medicaments to Misrata Central Hospital. According to Anadolu News Agency, the medical aids went to Misrata hospital as it is treating the injured of the war on IS.

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GECOL said that nine electric towers near Al-Fajij district 18 km away from Sabha were damaged by taking out the screws from the ground and keeping them baseless and liable to fall, which, if happened, would leave the southern region in utter darkness.

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Due to deteriorated security and constant assaults on teachers, a number of Sabha schools suspended studies, commenting that they were obliged to do so because of gunshots exchange in students brawls.

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Qasir Benghashir Mayor, Mohammed Ajaj, said five people were killed and other five were wounded in Tuesday clashes, adding that all the casualties were toting weapons and there were no civilians involved. He also said that the clashes were between an armed group appointed to secure the Aviation Academy and a number of the areas residents, saying the issue is due to be resolved.

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Libyan Relief Association distributed food baskets for 800 displaced families from Sirte in eastern Libya in coordination with the social affairs offices, municipal councils, and Libya Red Crescent in Ajdabiya.

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The UN-proposed governments Foreign Minister, Mohammed Sayala, said in a televised interview that Donald Trumps ban on seven Muslim-majority countries to travel to the US as unjust, adding that the order should be reconsidered as it is discriminatory and a violation of human rights.

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The member of Sirte crisis committee, Mohammed Al-Ameel, said the Libyan Doctor Association for Humanitarian Services Overseas (Germany branch) sent a cargo of medical equipment and devices to Ibn Sina Hospital in Sirte. He added that the container that arrived in Misrata port included 25 beds and medical mattresses, three surgery refrigerators, 10 medical beds for newborns, and 25 tables for medical services and other services.

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News Roundup - Wed, Feb 01, 2017 - The Libya Observer