France says 300 mercenaries have left eastern Libya

Some 300 foreign mercenaries have left eastern Libya, France’s foreign ministry said on Tuesday, hailing the start of a phased withdrawal of thousands of foreign forces that have fought on both sides of the conflict in the North African country.

The move, initially announced in November by Libya’s eastern-based forces loyal to the putschist Gen. Khalifa Haftar, was intended to stimulate a United Nations-backed agreement struck between the warring sides in the conflict through a joint military commission.