Libya’s warring factions to resume talks next week, both sides say
The U.N. is hoping to get both sides agree on a national unity government
Libya’s warring factions will resume on Tuesday U.N.-sponsored talks inside the oil producer to defuse a power struggle between two governments, officials from both sides said on Saturday.
Libya has been in chaos since a NATO-backed revolt ousted Muammar Qaddafi nearly four years ago with two rival governments allied to armed groups fighting for legitimacy in a conflict Western powers fear might lead to full-scale civil war.
Libya’s internationally recognized government under Prime Minister Abdullah al-Thinni and its elected House of Representatives are based in the east of the country after a group called Libya Dawn seized Tripoli last summer, set up its own administration and reinstated the old parliament.
Last month, the U.N. managed to bring some members of the factions to talks in Geneva but the Tripoli-based parliament known as General National Congress (GNC) wanted the dialogue to take place inside Libya.
“The U.N.-sponsored peace talks will take place in Libya on Tuesday unless anything unforeseeable happens,” Emhemed Shoaib, deputy speaker of the House of Representatives, told Reuters.
GNC member Abdul-Qader Hwaili confirmed the date, declining like Shoaib to disclose the venue.
Last week, U.N. Special Envoy Bernadino Leon said during a visit to Tripoli the talks would restart within days. A first U.N.-sponsored round of talks in the southern city of Ghadames were in September and made no progress.
The U.N. is hoping to get both sides agree on a national unity government, a goal that might be take time to reach given the rivalry. It plans to arrange local ceasefires and prisoner exchanges as a first step to defuse the conflict.
-
Western powers say Libya risks bankruptcy as oil price falls
The statement was issued by Britain, France, Germany, Italy, Spain and the United States Energy -
Suicide bomber kills two, wounds around 20 in Libya’s Benghazi
Military officials told a Reuters reporter at the scene the car had apparently targeted an army base but exploded early Africa -
ISIS growing in Libya, warns Libyan official
The Islamic State of Iraq and Syria group is gaining ground in Libya and a new international approach is needed to address the growing threat, a ... Middle East -
Gunmen storm Libya’s al-Mabrook oilfield
France’s Total says it has already withdrawn staff from the site Energy -
U.N. says peace talks to start in Libya within next few days
A partial ceasefire declared last month has largely held in several parts in Libya Middle East -
Libyan OPEC representative released
Libya’s Oil Ministry and energy sector is caught up in a power struggle between the two rival governments Africa -
Mother makes emotional plea for daughter's return from Libya
Ms Szymanowicz was shopping in Mothercare when the child’s father Maher Belaid abducted the 15-week-old Talia Middle East