AL HAYAT - Turkey hosted Libya east-west reunification talks last week

Ankara is one of the rare countries involved in Libya that maintains ties with both sides.

"Discussions have so far focused primarily on military unification, while political unity is expected to be addressed at a later stage," the official said.

The talks, which took place in the capital Ankara, were attended by military officials from Libya's eastern and western administrations as well as diplomats, the source said, adding that Turkey was acting as a mediator between the two sides.

Beset by instability since the 2011 overthrow of Moamer Kadhafi, Libya is divided between a UN-recognised government in Tripoli and a rival administration in the east backed by military commander Khalifa Haftar.

Turkey strongly backed the Tripoli-based government during Libya's years of conflict, but ties with eastern authorities have warmed significantly in recent years after a long period of hostility.

On Friday, Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan said the time had come to reunify Libya's rival eastern and western administrations, hinting that an announcement could come soon after he hosted a meeting of top European diplomats and regional powers in Istanbul.

"We have now reached a stage where the conditions are ripe to permanently secure the reunification of the east and the west," Fidan told journalists.

"One of the most important pillars of national unification is how the military units currently controlled separately by both sides will be brought together under a single umbrella," he added.

The same Turkish official said Wednesday the parties agreed to continue the meetings. "Turkey is the priority to host the talks but they could also take place in Libya," he said.

-'Positions aligned'-

Turkish mediation comes as Washington and the United Nations are also pushing for the reunification of the oil-rich country. Libya has the most abundant oil reserves in Africa.

Asked if Turkish and US plans clashed with each other, a foreign observer told AFP said Ankara and Washington's positions were aligned.

"Turkey remains close to the United States, and it would be an analytical error to assume that it has distanced itself. In my view, their positions are, in fact, aligned," the observer commented.

"If there is any significant friction, it is primarily in relation to the Europeans -- who are deeply divided on this issue notably France and Italy -- as well as Russia, which would see its influence diminish," he said.

The so-called "Boulos plan" for Libya's reunification named after US envoy Massad Boulos, would allow Abdulhamid Dbeibah, who heads the Tripoli government, to remain prime minister while Saddam Haftar, the eastern commander's son, would become head of the Presidential Council.

Last week, Libya's eastern-based parliament approved a maritime demarcation deal with Turkey, years after rejecting it when it was first signed.

The agreement has drawn anger from the European Union, Greece, Israel and Egypt, who denounced it as an infringement of their sovereign rights and a violation of international law.

Turkey's President Recep Tayyip Erdogan lashed out at the criticism, saying it had "no legitimate basis", speaking after the cabinet meeting on Monday.

"Our policy in the eastern Mediterranean is very clear. We are not seeking to score points against anyone in the Eastern Mediterranean," he said.

Analysts say Libya's approval gives Turkey stronger political backing for offshore surveys and negotiations over exploration.

E.Hilali--al-Hayat