Egypt's El Sisi meets Palestinian leader and Algerian foreign minister before Arab summit

Arab foreign ministers gather in Cairo for meeting expected to focus on the Palestinian-Israeli conflict and Libya

Egypt's President Abdel Fattah El Sisi. Reuters

Egypt’s President Abdel Fattah El Sisi on Tuesday met Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas and Algerian Foreign Minister Ramtane Lamamra, in the lead up to the Arab summit due to be held in Algiers in November.

The leaders held discussions as Arab foreign ministers gathered in Cairo for a meeting that was expected to focus on the Palestinian-Israeli conflict, the deadlock in efforts to end the political and security crises in Libya as well as preparations for the forthcoming summit.

Mr Lamamra delivered to Mr El Sisi an official invitation for the November summit, the Egyptian presidency said. The pair also discussed Libya, Syria and Iraq.

Both Egypt and Algeria have porous desert borders with Libya, where violence recently erupted between rival militias in the capital Tripoli, amid a political stalemate that grew out of the country’s failure to hold elections as scheduled last December.

A car burnt during clashes in Tripoli. Reuters

A car's smashed windshield. Reuters

Firefighters put out a fire inside a shop. Reuters

A burning building. Reuters

Empty bullets are found on the ground. Reuters

A man surveys the damage from clashes in the Libyan capital of Tripoli. AP

A car burns in the street. Reuters

Fighters loyal to the head of Libya's Government of National Unity gather in the street. Reuters

Fighters loyal to the Government of National Unity following clashes between rival Libyan groups. AFP

Smoke rises following the fighting. Reuters

Clashes broke out on Saturday between rival militias, a health official said. AP

The fighting broke out in various districts of Tripoli, as two rival governments yet again vie for power in the oil-rich but impoverished North African country. AFP

Tyres are used to section off a road in Tripoli. AFP

The fighting wounded civilians and raised fears of all-out conflict in a country facing a grave political crisis. AFP

Smoke billows as gunfire rings out in the capital. AFP

Fighting has left Tripoli completely deserted. AFP

Military vehicles of the 444 Brigade, backing the Government of National Unity patrol the streets. Reuters

Libya’s continuing deadlock stemmed in part from the refusal by Prime Minister Abdul Hamid Dbeibah, who led the transitional government, to step down.

In response, the country’s east-based parliament appointed a rival prime minister, Fathi Bashagha, who has for months sought to install his government in Tripoli.

The meeting between Mr El Sisi and Mr Abbas focused on the “latest developments in the Palestinian issue”, the Egyptian president's office said.

Egypt has historically played a pivotal role in efforts to mediate in the Palestinian-Israeli conflict. It has in recent years taken centre stage as the main regional mediator between Israel and the militant Hamas group that has ruled the Gaza Strip since 2007.

These mediation efforts have most recently enabled the two sides to agree to a truce after an 11-day war in May last year and again last month.

Egypt, which signed a peace treaty with Israel in 1979, shares a border with both the Gaza Strip and Israel.