Naming of Libyan unity government delayed by 48 hours
Date
1/17/2016 5:53:57 AM
(MENAFN- The Peninsula) UN Special Representative and Head of the UN Support Mission in Libya Martin Kobler (C top) looks on as representatives of Libyan municipalities sign documents to support Libya's new national government during a meeting in Tunis Tunisia December 21 2015. Reuters
TUNIS: The body tasked with naming aunity government for Libya under a UN-backed plan to resolvehe country's political crisis has delayed the plannedannouncement of the government's members by 48 hours.
The Presidential Council said in a statement released lateon Saturday that it had made "great progress" since beginningdiscussions on Jan. 1 but needed two more days to complete itswork.
Libya has been racked by political divisions and violence asnumerous factions and militias have competed for power followingthe fall of Muammar Gaddafi in 2011. Since the summer of 2014the country has had two rival governments one based in thecapital Tripoli and the other in the east.
A United Nations-mediated deal struck in Morocco on Dec. 17aims to heal the divisions and help Libya tackle a growingsecurity threat from Islamic State militants. It gave theTunis-based Presidential Council one month to name a Governmentof National Accord.
But the presidents of Libya's competing parliaments and manydeputies did not back the agreement and it has continued toface stiff opposition from some factions on the ground.
Once the new government's membership is announced theinternationally recognised parliament in eastern Libya will have10 days to approve it.
Reuters