Libya rivals hold talks in Morocco on unity government
Representatives of Libya's rival parliaments have held long-delayed UN-sponsored negotiations in Morocco in a bid to form a government of national unity in the North African country.
The discussions, which were chaired by Bernardino Leon, the UN special envoy to Libya, took place in the northwestern Moroccan city of Skhirat on Thursday, officials said.
The talks were part of an attempt to "find an agreement between the different parties on a national personality to lead a national unity government," said a participant, who was speaking on condition of anonymity.
The official further noted that ministers representing “different parties" will be named in the next step.
In a briefing before the negotiations, Leon told UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon that the talks aimed to establish a unity government, complete the constitution-drafting process and "address security arrangements to pave the way for a comprehensive ceasefire" in Libya.
Libya has two rival camps vying for control of the country, with one controlling the capital, Tripoli, and the other, Libya’s internationally recognized government, governing the eastern cities of Bayda and Tobruk.
The internationally recognized government of Libya asked the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) last month to lift the arms embargo on the country, which was imposed back in 2011, when Libya witnessed chaos following the uprising against longtime dictator, Muammar Gaddafi.
On Wednesday, Libyan Ambassador to the UN Ibrahim Dabbashi renewed the request, calling for permission to allow military purchases needed to fight Takfiri ISIL militants.
Libya plunged into chaos following the ouster of Gaddafi, which gave rise to a patchwork of heavily-armed militias and deep political divisions.
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