European powers condemn Turkish plans to send troops to Libya

The European Union's top diplomat and the foreign ministers of Britain, France, Germany and Italy condemned on Tuesday Turkey's plans to send military experts and trainers to Libya, saying foreign interference there was exacerbating instability.

After postponing a trip to Tripoli over safety concerns, the ministers and EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell held talks in Brussels to call for a ceasefire as Libya's internationally recognised government struggled to fend off a military offensive on its power base in the capital.

"Continuing outside interference is fuelling the crisis," the ministers and Borrell said in their joint statement released after the meeting.

In remarks to reporters, Borrell said: "It is obvious that this made a reference to the Turkish decision to intervene with their troops in Libya, which is something that we reject."

Turkey...