Berlin plans Libya summit in January: government spokesman

Germany is planning to host a peace summit on Libya this month, a government spokesman said Monday.

"The preparation for such a conference is ongoing, it should in any case take place in January here in Berlin," said Steffen Seibert.

The spokesman said he could not provide a firm date as yet, but confirmed that Sunday January 19 was a possible option.

The heads of Libya's warring sides were to meet in Moscow later Monday to sign a ceasefire deal ending nine months of heavy fighting.

The two sides are expected to sign an agreement on the terms of a ceasefire that took effect over the weekend, raising hopes of an end to the fighting that has wracked the oil-rich North African country since a 2011 NATO-backed uprising killed longtime dictator Moamer Kadhafi.