Haftar seeks support in Greece

The commander of forces fighting the U.N.-supported government in war-torn Libya has begun meetings in Athens.

Khalifa Haftar met with Greek Foreign Minister Nikos Dendias after arriving for a previously unannounced visit late on Jan. 16.

He will continue meetings with Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis on Jan. 17 as well as with other senior Greek officials.

The surprise visit by Haftar takes place ahead of a weekend summit in Berlin aimed at halting the conflict in oil-rich Libya which is being fueled by competing for international support for the warring sides.

Turkey, which has promised to send troops to back Libya's government against Haftar's offensive, is at odds with Greece over oil-and-gas drilling rights in the East Mediterranean.

Police maintained a heavy security presence outside the hotel next to parliament in central Athens where Haftar is staying.

Meanwhile, Germany on Jan. 16 said that Haftar is committed to a ceasefire.

German Foreign Minister Heiko Maas, after visiting the eastern Libyan city of Benghazi, also said Haftar is willing to attend a conference in Berlin on Jan. 19 about the conflict.

Maas's comment follows efforts by Russia and Turkey to persuade Haftar on a visit to Moscow this week to agree to a lasting ceasefire and halt the offensive on Tripoli. Haftar left Moscow without signing the proposal.

The nine-month-old war over Tripoli is just the latest bout of chaos in Libya, an OPEC member that has become a hub for human traffickers to ship migrants by boats to Italy, while Islamist militants have exploited the widespread disorder.

"If developments in Libya are allowed to continue, then Libya will be the next Syria and we don't want that...