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Libyan guards declare eastern ports safe after rival force pulls out


    BENGHAZI, Libya (Reuters) - A Libyan state oil security force has called on the country's state oil firm NOC to reopen the Ras Lanuf and Es Sider oil ports after a rival force pulled out from the area, a spokesman said on Monday.

    "The oil ports are safe," said Ali al-Hassi, spokesman for a force guarding the ports on behalf of the official government based in the east. "We call on NOC to lift force majeure from the ports."

    The two eastern Libyan ports were closed in December after troops reporting to a self-declared government controlling Tripoli started a military campaign to seize them.

    But a Tripoli official on Saturday said the force had pulled out from frontline positions near the ports.

    (Reporting by Ayman al-Warfalli, writing by Ulf Laessing)