Italy is "deeply concerned" about the escalating conflict in Libya, foreign minister Luigi di Maio told European Union foreign policy chief Josep Borrell in a "lengthy" phonecall on Wednesday, diplomatic sources said.
"The path of political dialogue mapped out in Berlin is the only credible, effective option to end the crisis," Di Maio told Borrell, referring to an international conference in Berlin in January.
"Italy backs Libya's territorial integrity," Di Maio said, according to the sources.
Di Maio and Borrell's phone conversation came after Libya's eastern-based military commander Khalifa Haftar said on Monday he had "a popular mandate" to govern the country, declaring a key 2015 power-sharing deal was over as he vowed to press on with his almost 13-month-old assault to seize the capital, Tripoli.
The European Union, the United States and Russia have rejected Haftar's "unilateral" move.
Haftar's announcement came after forces loyal to the internationally recognised Government of National Accord in Tripoli routed Haftar's troops ins several key cities in the country's west in mid-April.
Libya has had rival administrations in the east and west since 2014 and there are now fears that the coronavirus pandemic could easily overwhelm the country's conflict-ravaged health service.
