Italy PM Draghi urges Libya to maintain ceasefire

Italy’s new prime minister, on his first official trip abroad, also lauded Tripoli’s efforts in stemming refugee crossings to Europe.

Italian Prime Minister Mario Draghi on Tuesday urged the Libyan government to ensure that the country’s ceasefire is maintained ahead of elections scheduled for later this year. In his first overseas trip since taking office in February, Draghi held talks with Libya’s interim Prime Minister Abdulhamid Dbeibeh in Tripoli. Speaking to reporters after the meeting, Draghi said it was a “prerequisite” for a ceasefire signed in October last year to “continue and be strictly observed”, adding the two leaders had also spoken about immigration and economic cooperation between the two countries.