Turkey says ready to send troops to Libya

“If our Libyan brothers make such a request, then Turkey is willing to do what is necessary”, Oktai said, speaking at a meeting for trade and co-operation.

On November 27th, Ankara and Tripoli reached two separate memorandums of understanding -- one on military co-operation and the other on the maritime borders of countries in the Eastern Mediterranean.

Following the military co-operation agreement, Turkish President Recep Tayip Erdogan said Ankara could consider sending troops to Libya if the Tripoli government makes such a request.

Ankara's” Administration will continue to protect Turkey's and Turkish Cypriots' rights in the eastern Mediterranean, where tensions have increased after the discovery of the billions of dollars worth of hydrocarbon reserves”, he added. /