Libya rivals discuss UN-backed peace proposals in parliament
SKHIRAT, Morocco: Libya’s rival parliaments discussed Wednesday proposals unveiled a day earlier aimed at ending violence and establishing a provisional government, UN envoy Bernardino Leon said.
The proposals, developed by the Libyans themselves, speak of a unity government headed by a president and a presidential council of independent figures, along with a parliament and a high state council.
A national security council and a municipalities council would also be created, and an existing constitutional drafting committee be part of the transitional period.
All will operate for a “transitional period whose duration will be agreed on by the parties and will end with new elections that will come after the approval of the constitution and referendum,” said the UN mission in Libya.
Speaking to journalists in Skhirat, Morocco, where the talks are taking place, Leon said proposals are evolving with the incorporation of new ideas, and new propositions are being distributed to the parties with comments expected Thursday.
“We are also expecting the parties to have a first exchange of views on the future components of the unity government, and this is what we are planning to do this evening and tomorrow,” he said.
Leon also reiterated concern about continuing violence, after news the Islamic State group killed five Islamist- backed militiamen in an attack on a checkpoint Wednesday in the Libyan coastal city of Sirte.
IS also claimed responsibility for a double suicide car bombing that killed at least seven soldiers in Libya’s second city of Benghazi on Tuesday.
“We are concerned not only because there are human lives that are lost, but also because this has an impact on the dialogue,” Leon said.
The ones behind the killings “are using them to put pressure on this dialogue, on those who have decided to find solutions with dialogue.”
Libya has been in turmoil since the 2011 overthrow of longtime dictator Muammar Gadhafi in a Nato-backed uprising. — AFP