ROME (Sputnik) – Internationally recognized Libyan authorities based in the eastern city of Tobruk accused Rome of violating the North African nation’s territorial waters, claiming to have spotted three Italian warships off the coast of Benghazi.
"The news released this morning by Libyan sources about the presence yesterday of three Italian vessels in Libyan waters is false," the Italian ministry said in a statement.
The Tobruk government reportedly scrambled its military aircraft in response to the claimed violation.
The Italian Defense Ministry said all its military vessels in the Mediterranean operate "within the limits established by treaties."
Libya has been split since 2011, when the Arab Spring protests led to a civil war and the overthrow of long-time leader Muammar Gaddafi. The country has been ruled by the Tobruk-based Council of Deputies and the Tripoli-based General National Congress.
Arish Saeed, the chairman of the Tobruk government’s International Information Authority, told Sputnik earlier this week he expected the formation of a UN-brokered national unity government to be announced soon.
