Turkish parliament passes Libya troop deployment

ANKARA -- Turkish parliament passed a motion on Thursday authorizing the government to deploy troops to Libya in support of the UN-backed government.

The lawmakers voted on the motion in an emergency session. The motion was approved with 325 votes in favor and 184 against.

The bill was supported by the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP), Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) and Felicity Party.

The Republican People's Party (CHP), the Good Party and the Peoples' Democratic Party (HDP) have objected to the motion saying that Turkey should search for a diplomatic solution in Libya instead of getting involved in the conflict.

The motion envisages a one-year mandate to deploy troops on the grounds that developments in the North African country threaten Turkey's interests, including Turkish businesses and its Turkish vessels sailing in the Mediterranean.

The motion says sending troops to Libya aims to prevent "illegitimate mass migration threat and formation of a favorable environment for terrorist organizations and armed groups."

The motion says the government will decide on the size, timing, and scope of the deployment.

Libya has been locked in a civil war, splitting power between two rival governments: the UN-backed Government of National Accord (GNA) based in capital Tripoli and another in the northeastern city of Tobruk which is allied with the self-proclaimed Libyan National Army (LNA) led by Khalifa Haftar.

Last month, Turkey sealed a controversial maritime boundaries delimitation agreement with the GNA along with a security cooperation deal.