Libyan rivals agree to Dec. 10 elections

Rival Libyan leaders meeting in Paris on Tuesday tentatively agreed on a political roadmap leading to parliamentary and presidential elections on Dec. 10, but the plan faces major obstacles in the North African country, where the rival authorities rely on an array of unruly militias.

In an early sign of trouble, the Libyan leaders declined to sign a closing declaration outlining their commitments, which include laying the groundwork for the vote with new electoral laws and establishing a “constitutional basis” by mid-september.

French President Emmanuel Macron, who hosted the conference, nevertheless lauded the eight-point declaration as a “crucial step” toward stabilizing the country, which was plunged into chaos after the 2011 uprising that toppled Moammar Gadhafi.

“It’s the first time these Libyan leaders accepted to work together and approved a joint declaration,” Macron said at the close of the brief conference that brought together rivals from Libya’s west and east, representatives of some 20 countries and the U.N. special envoy for Libya. “Now we have clear commitments for the country, an approved calendar” for elections, he said.

The non-binding accord sets a Sept. 16 deadline to “set the constitutional basis” for the elections as well as to adopt electoral laws.

The formulation was meant to allow for several options, including amending Libya’s constitution or writing a new charter, Macron said.

The talks brought together Prime Minister Fayez Sarraj, head of Libya’s U.n.-backed government in Tripoli, and Gen. Khalifa Hifter, whose forces dominate eastern Libya.

The conference aimed to forge a political roadmap that would restore order in Libya, where lawlessness has fed Islamic militancy, human trafficking and instability in the wider region that threatens Europe.

Moving toward parliamentary and presidential elections by the end of 2018 was a key goal.