The US AFRICOM Commander Stephen Townsend discussed Wednesday key security issues with Minister of Defense of Libya's Government of National Accord, including counterterrorism efforts and security sector reform.

The US embassy in Libya said in a statement that during his visit to Tunisia, US Africa Command Commander Stephen Townsend and the US Ambassador to Libya, Richard Norland, discussed recent political and security developments in Libya.

"During the meeting, the two spoke via video conference call with newly-appointed Libyan Minister of Defense Salah Eddine al-Namrush to reiterate US support for continued intra-Libyan dialogue under the U.N.-led process." The US embassy added.

The embassy indicated that General Townsend and Ambassador Norland also conveyed US support for Libya’s counter-terrorism efforts, security sector reform, and calls for a lasting ceasefire, deescalation of forces in central Libya, and the departure of all foreign military and mercenary forces from Libya.