U.S. envoy endorses Libya's U.N.-backed government, in flying visit to Tripoli

The U.S. ambassador to Libya Peter Bodde speaks during a news conference with Marine General Thomas Waldhauser, the top U.S. military commander overseeing troops in Africa, and Prime Minister of Libya's Government of National Accord (GNA) Fayez Seraj, in Tripoli, Libya May 23, 2017. REUTERS/Hani Amara

TRIPOLI (Reuters) - The U.S. ambassador to Libya pledged Washington's support for its U.N.-backed government on Tuesday and urged rival factions to avoid civil war, during the first, fleeting visit to the country by a U.S. envoy in nearly three years.

Peter Bodde, who is based in Tunis, and Marine General Thomas Waldhauser, the top U.S. military commander overseeing troops in Africa, flew into Tripoli for two hours to meet the prime minister of Libya's Government of National Accord (GNA) and other senior officials.