UN hands Libya's warring parties unity proposal
June 9, 2015
Talks in Morocco on Monday brought together Libya's two rival governments, in what is being viewed as a last-ditch attempt to stop ongoing violence.
Libya currently has two parliaments, one with Islamist backing and the other which is recognized internationally, in Tobruk. Fighting between forces from both governments has battered the OPEC nation since the 2011 uprising that ended the rule of longtime dictator Moammar Gadhafi. The power vacuum left by Gadhafi's ouster has seen jihadist groups flourish in Libya, with both the "Islamic State" and al Qaeda managing to gain a foothold there.
UN special envoy Bernardino Leon called on both sides to take advantage of an opportunity to unify their country, presenting what is the fourth version of a draft proposal for forming a unity government.
Leon warned last week that Libya was running out of cash and risked ceasing to be a functional state.
"Today the people of Libya have their eyes on this gathering, on you, in the hope that you'll save your country and your people from protracted conflict," he said. "I am full of hope that this draft represents a fair and reasonable way forward."
Leon hopes for an agreement to end the conflict before Ramadan begins, on June 17.
Government of national unity
The goal is the formation of a one-year-long government of national unity, where a council of ministers headed by a prime minister, with two deputies, will have executive authority based in Tripoli. The agreement also addresses the terms of a ceasefire.
Delegates from both factions said they would adjourn to study the latest draft, before reconvening in Morocco.
"What I can say is at the end of this week, we will have a very clear idea on who is for peace and who is not, and that will help us to focus our efforts in the future," said Deborah Jones, US ambassador to Libya.
jr/cmk (AP, Reuters, dpa)