(MENAFN- Kuwait News Agency (KUNA)) The governments of France, Germany, Italy, Spain, the United Kingdom and the United States applaud the "extraordinary efforts" of Bernardino Leon, the special representative of the UN Secretary General, and welcome his announcement of a new round of political dialogue on Libya in Geneva next week, the White House said on Saturday.

"We strongly urge the parties to engage seriously in this process to avert a further deterioration in the humanitarian crisis suffered by ordinary Libyans as a result of the ongoing conflict, and to prevent the further erosion of Libya's sovereignty and security," the announcement said.