TUNIS, Aug. 21 (Xinhua) -- Tunisia welcomed Friday cease-fire announcements made by UN-backed Prime Minister of Libya Fayez Serraj and Speaker of the eastern-based parliament Aguila Saleh.
Tunisian Foreign Ministry lauded the move as "a positive step" that would help restore confidence among Libyan people in a political settlement to the crisis.
In its statement, the ministry reiterated Tunisia's firm position on continuing to stand by Libyan people and support their efforts to achieve security and prosperity and preserve Libya's sovereignty and territorial integrity to build a strong, stable and secure state.
Earlier in the day, Serraj announced a cease-fire to end all hostilities in Libya, calling for presidential and parliamentary elections.
Saleh also called for a cease-fire and elections, as well as resumption of oil exports.
Libya has been in a civil war since its leader Muammar Gaddafi was ousted and killed in 2011.
The situation worsened in 2014, when power fight escalated between two rival governments with warring forces, namely the UN-backed government based in the capital Tripoli and the other in the northeastern city of Tobruk allied with the Libyan National Army led by Khalifa Haftar and the eastern-based House of Representatives. Enditem
