Libya's parliament has voted against a deal that would see Turkey deploy troops in the North African country. The assembly accused Libya's official head of government, Fayez Serraj, of 'treason'.

Libya's eastern-based parliament on Saturday rejected an agreement that would allow Ankara to send troops to Libya.

The Libyan House of Representatives (HoR) in Tobruk voted against a deployment requested by the UN-backed Government of National Accord (GNA).

The Western-based GNA had asked for military help from Turkey, and the parliament in Ankara on Thursday voted in favor of the deployment of troops.

As well as voting against the deployment and cooperation with Turkey, the HoR also voted unanimously to refer GNA Prime Minister Fayez Serraj to be prosecuted for “high treason” because of the deals signed with Ankara under his watch.

The Libyan deputies also voted to cut relations with Turkey.

Serraj's beleaguered government, which is based in Tripoli, has been under sustained attack by General Khalifa Haftar and his self-styled Libyan National Army (LNA).

Haftar — who with his eastern power base is supported by the HoR — has already seized the country's main oil fields and export terminals.

The GNA is part of a UN-backed deal to bridge political differences between the rival administrations in the east and west.

Source: Deutsche Welle