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Libya gov’t rejects amendments to proposed deal

UN special envoy to Libya Bernardino Leon (2nd-R) sits between Libya's General National Congress (GNC) deputy president Saleh al-Makzom (R) and First Deputy Speaker of the House in Tobruk Emhemed Shoaib (2nd-L) during peace talks between rival Libyan factions at the UN Office in Geneva on August 12, 2015. (AFP photo)

Libya's internationally recognized government has refused to make changes demanded by its rivals to a draft UN peace deal, diminishing hopes for the resolution of the conflict in the North African country.

In a Tuesday statement, the eastern-based Libyan government said it “rejects all amendments and modifications to the text of the deal” to which it had agreed in July.

Libya has two rival governments striving to gain control of the country, with one faction controlling Tripoli, and the other, Libya’s internationally recognized government, governing the eastern cities of Bayda and Tobruk.

Amendments suggested by the rival congress include invalidation of the internationally recognized government.

In January, the rival administrations - the General National Congress (GNC) and the country’s internationally-recognized government agreed to set up a national unity government.

Last week, the UN's special envoy to Libya Bernardino Leon said that rival parties in the conflict-stricken country had reached “a consensus on the main elements” of a peace deal.

Leon called on the internationally-recognized government to accept points which have been introduced to the draft at the request of the GNC.

Under Leon’s plan, a unity government deal must be reached by September 20, with the new Libyan government taking over a month later.

A Libyan soldier mans a checkpoint in Benghazi's northern district of Sabri on March 25, 2015, the day after a suicide car bomb attack on an army checkpoint in Libya's eastern port city. (AFP photo)

 

The disagreement between the Tobruk-based government and its rival administration in Tripoli dents hopes for ending the political crisis in the North African country.

Libya plunged into chaos after the ouster of dictator Muammar Gaddafi in 2011, which gave rise to a patchwork of heavily-armed militias and deep political divisions.

The presence of Takfiri Daesh militants has further complicated the situation in the violence-wracked country.


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