Russia pledges to help end Libya crisis

Russia says it will "do everything necessary" to help get strike an agreement between rivals in war-torn Libya and end the country's ongoing political crisis.

After a 2015 UN-backed agreement, a unity Government of National Accord (GNA) was established with Fayez al-Sarraj as prime minister took office in Tripoli last year.

But it has struggled to impose its authority elsewhere, particularly in the far east, where military strongman Khalifa Haftar controls much of the territory and supports a rival parliament.

"We will assist in resolving all questions in negotiations between Tripoli and Tobruk, with whom we are regularly in contact," Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said at a press conference after meeting his Libyan counterpart Mohamad Taha Siala in Moscow.

"Russia will do everything necessary to fully normalise the situation in Libya and in regard to the international aspect of re-establishing the rights of the Libyan state," Lavrov said. 

In September, the United Nations launched a new plan to bring stability to Libya, which has been in chaos since the 2011 NATO-backed popular revolt against long-time dictator Muammar Gaddafi.

During the first round of talks, rival Libyan politicians had agreed to set up a three-member Presidency Council and a new government.

But there is disagreement over an article of a 2015 UN-backed political deal which gives the GNA the power to name the head of the armed forces.