World Bulletin/News Desk

Saudi Foreign Minister Saud al-Faisal on Thursday met in Riyadh with Libyan Prime Minister Abdullah al-Thinni to discuss issues of mutual concern and regional developments, the Saudi official news agency said.

Al-Thinni met earlier on Thursday with Saudi Deputy Crown Prince Muqrin bin Abdulaziz Al-Saud to discuss bilateral relations and regional and international developments.

The Libyan official also met Saudi intelligence chief Prince Bandar bin Abdulaziz at his residence in Riyadh on Thursday morning.

Al-Thinni started an unannounced visit to Saudi Arabia late on Wednesday.

The Saudi news agency did not provide further details – including the duration – of al-Thinni's visit to the oil-rich kingdom.

Libya has been dogged by political instability since the 2011 ouster and death of long-ruling strongman Muammar Gaddafi.

Ever since, rival militias have frequently locked horns, bringing violence to the country's main cities, especially Tripoli and Benghazi.

The central government, for its part, has appeared largely absent from the scene.

The country's sharp political divisions have yielded two rival seats of government, each of which has its own institutions.

Two assemblies currently vie for legislative authority: a recently-elected House of Representatives, which convenes in Tobruk; and the General National Congress, which – even though its mandate ended in August – continues to convene in Tripoli.

The two parliaments support two rival governments respectively headquartered in the two cities.