Libya to 'protect' Turkish, Qatari residents after Haftar's threats

Libya's Foreign Ministry said Monday that it had nothing to do with a warning issued earlier by a rogue army general to Turkish and Qatari nationals against remaining in Libya.

"The transitional government is responsible for protecting foreigners staying in Libya," the ministry said in a statement.

On Saturday, retired general Khalifa Haftar gave Turkish and Qatari nationals 48 hours to leave eastern Libya or face arrest at the hands of his forces.

"After the deadline, anyone from the two countries would be arrested and face due measures," Haftar's spokesman Mohamed Hegazi told Al-Tadamoun press agency, without elaborating on the measures in question.

"We also have information that some of the nationals of these two states work for intelligence agencies," Hegazi told Anadolu Agency.

The Turkish foreign minister dismissed Haftar's claims on Monday. 

"These claims are groundless," Ahmet Davutoglu told a press conference Ankara. "Turkey or someone from Turkey cannot be accused of such an offense."

The Libyan Foreign Ministry urged Libyans to respect "foreign guests," saying the latter were in the country to provide important services to the Libyan people.

The ministry also assured foreign companies and businessmen working in Libya that it would take the necessary measures to guarantee their safety.

Turkey closed its consulate in the eastern city of Benghazi on June 13 and warned its citizens against travelling to the turbulent North African country, particularly its eastern regions.

The Turkish Foreign Ministry has called on Turkish nationals in Libya to leave the country if their presence was non-essential.

Haftar, who once fought against late Libyan dictator Muammar Gaddafi, reappeared on Libya's political stage last month to declare war on Islamists based in the eastern parts of the country.

Libya's government had accused the rogue general of plotting a "coup" against constitutional legitimacy.