Erdogan s '%s' cares about Putin, sends military troops to Libya

Turkish President Recep Tayip Erdogan has said his state will send military troops to Libya at Tripoli's request from January -- a step that can confront this country with mercenaries linked to the Kremlin, allegedly fighting in the North African nation.

A Tripoli official has confirmed the official request that has been made to Ankara for support of Turkey's military, land, air and sea forces.

Libya's government, known by the United Nations in Tripoli, is being challenged to control the country as a result of the General's Libya National Army, Khalifa Haftar, which is reportedly supported by Russia, China, Egypt, the United Arab Emirates and Jordan.

Libya's government was established in 2016 under an agreement brokered by the United Nations, since chaos had developed in Libya, following the dictatorship's departure from power, Muammar Qaddafi in 2011.

Moscow has warned Turkey against deploying troops to Libya.

But Erdogan has rejected Russian criticism and has said Turkey will not remain silent against mercenaries supporting Haftar, who belong to the private insurance company Wagner, linked to the Kremlin.

Moscow has not confirmed the presence of the Wagner group in Libya, nor if it supports this warrior.

Diplomats have said Haftar's fighters have not arrived in Tripoli, but have gradually advanced to southern areas with the help of Russian and Sudanese forces.

Meanwhile, the White House said US President Donald Trump had a telephone conversation with Egypt's President Abdel Fattah al-Assi, who had “countering “the exploitation of foreign forces”, without specifically mentioning any country.

The “Liders have agreed that the parties should take urgent measures to resolve the conflict before Libyan residents lose control of foreign actors”, the White House has said, among other things.