UN presses ‘final’ peace talks for unity government in Libya

Negotiators from rival parliaments gather in Morocco to iron out political differences

Delegates from Libya’s rival parliaments gathered in Morocco yesterday for what UN mediators demanded be a “final” push for a unity government to stem mounting extremism and a desperate exodus of asylum-seekers.

Rival governments have battled for power in the North African country since last August.

Daesh terrorists have exploited the power struggle to launch increasingly grisly attacks including the videotaped beheadings of 21 Christians in February.

UN envoy Bernardino Leon, who has been shuttling between the warring sides for months, said the reported drowning of up to 400 would-be asylumseekers off the Libyan coast earlier this week should be the spur for an agreement.

“I really hope that the negotiators that are coming today are understanding that we cannot wait anymore and this will really be the final round,” he said.

“This is Libya today — terrorism, no control on the borders, people dying every day in the Mediterranean, air strikes ... it cannot go on. The patience of Libyans is finished, and the patience of the international community is finished.” The UN envoy called on the rival negotiating teams to thrash out the full details of a unity government, including the names of ministers, to replace the rival administrations in Tripoli and Tobruk.

The internationally recognised government has been based in the eastern town since an Islamist-backed militia alliance seized the capital in August.

Its loyalists have carried out repeated air strikes on Tripoli and third city Misrata while its opponents have attacked the main eastern oil export terminals dealing a heavy blow to Libya’s main revenue earner.

Mohammad Al Hejazi, spokesman for army forces loyal to the government of Prime Minister Abdullah Al Thinni, said warplanes had attacked Tripoli’s Mitiga airport and other targets in western Libya.

“This is part of our campaign against terrorism,” he said.

Abdul Salam Buamoud, spokesman for Mitiga airport, said the planes had missed the airport.

AP Exchanging greetings Sergei Lavrov, Russian Foreign Minister (left), greets Abdullah Al Thinni, Libyan Prime Minister, in Moscow. Al Thinni has asked Russia to help secure the lifting of an embargo on weapons supplies to Libya’s army.