Turkey denies having any connection with a previous meeting last December in Benghazi between the ex-interior minister and presidential candidate Fathi Bashagha and warlord Khalifa Haftar.

Political analyst Marwan Al-Darqash quoted Turkish officials as saying that the Turkish government provided no advice to Bashaga about this meeting, and he never communicated with Turkey in this regard.

The Turkish officials stressed that Ankara's policy in Libya is based on backing the legitimate institutions, supporting peace efforts, and bringing offenders to justice to preserve the rights of their victims.

On December 21, presidential candidate Fathi Bashagha, accompanied by former Vice-PC head Ahmed Maiteeq arrived in Benghazi to meet Khalifa Haftar, who is being sued in Libyan and US courts over civilian deaths.

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