PARIS, April 17 (Xinhua) -- French Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian on Wednesday called for a ceasefire in Libya where, according to him, rival factors should resume dialogues swiftly to reach a political solution to the conflict.
During phone conversation with UN Special Envoy to Libya Ghassan Salame, the French top diplomat expressed "concern over a situation that undermines the peace efforts ... and whose civilian populations are the first victims".
Le Drian stressed the necessity to halt hostility and resume talks in order to prelaunch "a credible political process" under the authority of the United Nations.
"France is determined to continue its efforts alongside Libyans, its European partners and Libya's neighbors to find a negotiated solution to this conflict whose resolution is a major stake for the security of Europe, stability in the Mediterranean and in the Sahel and to monitor migration," he said.
A total of 189 people have been killed and 816 others wounded in the fighting between the UN-backed Libyan government and the east-based army in and around the capital Tripoli so far, the World Health Organization (WHO) revealed on Wednesday.
"In the conflict in Tripoli, Libya, 189 are dead and 816 are wounded. More than 18,000 people are displaced," WHO said in a statement.
"WHO and health partners are coordinating mobile medical teams that are going to centers for the displaced people and treating the sick," it added.
The east-based army, led by Khalifa Haftar, has been leading a military campaign since early April to take over Tripoli, where the UN-backed government is based.
Libya has been struggling to make a democratic transition amid insecurity and chaos ever since the fall of former leader Muammar Gaddafi in 2011.
