FINAL DEAL ON LIBYA UNITY GOVT ‘IMMINENT’: MP

Tripoli, 16 Jumadil Awwal 1436/7 March 2015 (MINA) – A final agreement on the formation of a unity government in Libya is expected to be reached Saturday during UN-sponsored talks in Morocco, a member of the Tripoli-based parliament has said.

“The morning sessions will see a written agreement between Libya’s rival factions on the selection criteria of the new premier, the shape of the new government, its tenure and the number of ministries,” the member, requesting anonymity, told The Anadolu Agency by phone from Tripoli, quoted by Mi’raj Islamic News Agency (MINA) as reporting.

Based on the prospective agreement, “both sides will return to their respective parliaments to devise a list of possible nominees for the premiership and will return to Morocco on Wednesday to discuss the nominees,” he said.

The MP went on to note that “agreeing on which legislature would ratify the new government has been postponed to later sessions that will be held by weekend.”

He said the delegation of the Tripoli-based parliament to the talks is “optimistic about the outcome of the dialogue.”

Libya’s Tobruk-based parliament, which enjoys international recognition, views itself as the elected representative of the Libyan people.

The Tripoli-based assembly, meanwhile, claims legislative authority based on a verdict delivered last November by Libya’s High Court dissolving the Tobruk parliament.

UN Special Representative Bernardino Leon said Friday that the UN-sponsored talks between Libya’s warring camps have seen a “breakthrough” in terms of the formation of a unity government and security issues.

Libya has remained in a state of turmoil since a bloody uprising ended the decades-long rule of strongman Muammar Gaddafi in late 2011.

Since then, the country’s stark political divisions have yielded two rival seats of government, each with its own institutions and military capacities.

Vying for legislative authority are a Tobruk-based parliament and an Islamist-led parliament, the latter of which – even though its mandate ended last year – continues to convene in capital Tripoli.

The two assemblies support two rival governments respectively headquartered in the two cities. (T/P001/R03)

Mi’raj Islamic News Agency (MINA)