Libyan Islamic leader backs UN talks

TRIPOLI: An influential Islamic supporter of Libya’s self- declared government said United Nations talks were the only way to end the country’s conflict, but signalled a deal would be hard while a rival government works with a former ally of Muammar Qaddafi.

The remarks from Abdul Hakeem Belhadj illustrate how support for UN sponsored negotiations may be complicated by divisions within the two loose alliances of Libyan forces now competing for power.

Four years after the civil war that ousted Qaddafi, the North African country is caught up in conflict between two rival governments and their armed forces fighting to secure control over the OPEC member’s oil wealth.

“Unfortunately the current crisis, the division between the two parliaments, governments and also two groups of army, could be only ended through consensus and serious dialogue,” Belhadj told Reuters in an interview.

Now a leading Libyan political figure with the conservative Al- Watan party, Belhadj fought in Afghanistan, fought to overthrow Qaddafi in 1990s and then joined the 2011 uprising against the former leader.

Libyan Prime Minister Abdullah Al- Thinni’s internationally- recognized government and elected Parliament operate out of the east since a rival armed faction called Libya Dawn took over the capital Tripoli in the summer and set up its own government.