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A Turkish-Jamaican flagged ship bound for the port of Misrata in western Libya has been intercepted, according to a spokesman for eastern Libyan forces.
The incident could trigger a possible outbreak of war in the North African country after weeks of truce.
Turkey is the main foreign supporter of the internationally recognized Tripoli-based Government of National Unity (GNA), whose forces have been fighting the Libyan National Army (LNA) based in eastern Libya for years.
LNA spokesman Ahmet al-Mismari said the Mabrouka cargo ship had 17 crew members, including nine Turkish nationals, and containers that had not yet been inspected. Naval forces of the LNA intercepted him near the eastern port of Derna, he said.
A spokesman for the Turkish Foreign Ministry was not immediately available for comment.
The GNA and the LNA signed a ceasefire agreement in October, and the United Nations is entering into a political dialogue with the aim of holding elections next year as a solution to the protracted conflict in Libya.
But both sides have not withdrawn their forces from the front, as required by the ceasefire agreement, while an incident in southern Libya on Sunday when LNA forces occupied a military camp put the agreement in further jeopardy.
Hours earlier, Mismari accused Turkey of continuing to supply arms and fighters to the GNA. The LNA is compatible with Russia, the United Arab Emirates, and Egypt.
A group of UN experts has stressed that foreign supporters on both sides of the Libyan conflict continue to violate the arms embargo on the North African country.
Sources: ΑΠΕ-ΜΠΕ-Reuters
