Libyan Rivals Continue to Battle over Sirte

Libyan insurgents say they bombed an important road west of Sirte on Wednesday after claiming to take over a major part of the coastal city. The self-styled Libyan National Army (LNA) led by renegade general Khalifa Haftar has been fighting troops loyal to the UN-backed Government of National Accord (GNA) since sweeping out of its eastern bastion of Benghazi last spring, taking over oil fields and laying siege to the southern part of the capital Tripoli. The fighting over Sirte is a more recent outgrowth of the LNA’s campaign. GNA forces say they withdrew from the city to avoid an all-out battle. Turkey has begun sending troops to Libya at the request of the GNA to assist in a mostly advisory and training capacity, a move condemned by the European Union. GNA Prime Minister Fayez Al-Sarraj was in Brussels on Wednesday to meet with EU officials. Libya has been cleaved in two for most of the past eight years since the ouster and killing of dictator Muamar Gaddafi in 2011.