Libya’s transitional government underlined its commitment to holding elections on December 24 at a conference Wednesday with powers that have interests in the North African country, while the German hosts vowed to keep up pressure until all foreign forces have been withdrawn from Libya.

Libyan Foreign Minister Najla al-Mangoush says she hopes foreign mercenaries will leave the North African country in the coming days.

World powers are meeting in Berlin on Wednesday to seek lasting peace in Libya by ensuring the conflict-racked North African country stays firmly on the path towards general elections on December 24.

After yesterday’s hype over the reopening by Prime Minister Abd Alhamid Aldabaiba of the coastal road between Misrata and Sirte, linking western and eastern Libya, the 5+5 Joint Military Commission (JMC) said the road will not be open to the general public immediately.

An Algerian media website specialising in security and military issues has said that the claim that Libya’s Field Marshal Khalifa Haftar took control of the Issine Border Crossing is fake news. According to Mena Defence, the story was fabricated by pro-Haftar media as part of the psychological warfare against Algeria …

Attending the closing ceremony of ‘‘Exercise African Lion 21’’ held in Morocco 17-19 June, Commander of U.S. Africa Command, General Stephen Townsend, met with several African defence leaders including Libyan Government of National Unity representatives and the Chief of Staff of the Libyan Army, Gen. Mohamad al-Haddad, AFRICOM reported yesterday.

Libya’s eastern commander Khalifa Haftar is planning to escalate military activity in the country before the end of the year in order to disrupt the elections scheduled for 24 December, reported the New Arab newspaper.

The Libyan 5+5 Joint Military Commission (JMC) has postponed reopening the coastal road between Sirte and Misrata until damages on the road are fixed and checkpoints are clearly assigned to security untis.

The statement came after forces loyal to Khalifa Haftar said they have taken control of a border crossing with Algeria.

Forces loyal to Libya’s eastern-based commander Khalifa Haftar have closed the border with Algeria, they said on Sunday, after major deployments of his forces to the south underscored his continued role despite efforts to unify the country, reports Reuters.