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Libya: East-based Haftar's forces withdraw from Tripoli after months of siege
GNA says regained control over capital, overrun Haftar's last bastion in the country's west
The forces of eastern-based strongman Khalifa Haftar confirmed their "redeployment" away from the Libyan capital of Tripoli as the UN-backed government announced it is back in full control.
On Thursday, the Government of National Accord (GNA) said it had retaken the whole of Greater Tripoli, regaining control over the suburbs and repelling an offensive Haftar's forces launched in April last year.
Haftar's spokesman Ahmad al-Mesmari explained that the redeployment was a "humanitarian gesture intended to spare the Libyan people further bloodshed" and allow a UN-backed military commission tasked with shoring up a nationwide ceasefire work more efficiently.
On Friday, the GNA also announced that its forces have overrun the base of Tarhuna -- Haftar's last remaining bastion in the area around the capital, used as a rear base in the offensive.
Hundreds have been killed and 200,000 more driven from their homes since Haftar launched his assault, vowing to "cleanse" the capital of the "terrorist militias" he said dominated the GNA.
Backed by Turkey, which provided attack drones and sent in Syrian mercenaries, and Qatar, the GNA also relies on a loose coalition of local militias, some reportedly including a large number of radical Islamists.
Haftar, in his turn, enjoys support from Egypt, the UAE and Russia, which, according to recent reports from the US military, sent fighter jets to the Tobruk-based strongman.
The United Nations' Libya mission said Tuesday that after a three-month suspension, the warring parties had agreed to resume ceasefire talks.
A military commission made up of five GNA loyalists and five Haftar delegates held talks in February, but the dialogue was suspended.