The Italian Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte has told the French President Emmanuel Macron on Friday that Italy will not support elections in Libya before the political consensus process is completed.

In an interview with the Italian-based newspaper, Corriere della Sera, Conte explained that his government's priority in Libya is to reach a clear strategy with the ministers in the Libyan government on the elections.

Conte added that he had made clear to the French president that Italy will not support the "forward escape", stressing that the reconciliation process should precede any elections.

"The center of concern at this stage is Libya and North Africa," Conte insisted, explaining that it is an unstable region because of the misconceived strategic calculations of the West and for being a departure point for immigrants flowing to Europe.

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