U.N. TO HOST NEW ROUNDS OF LIBYA TALKS IN MOROCCO

Members of the Libyan pro-government forces stand on a tank in Benghazi, Libya, May 21, 2015. Libya, which has descended into near anarchy since NATO warplanes helped rebels overthrow former dictator Muammar Gaddafi in a 2011 civil war, is now the third big stronghold for Sunni Islamist group Islamic State, also known as ISIS or ISIL, which declared a Caliphate to rule over all Muslims from territory it holds in Syria and Iraq. REUTERS/Stringer — Members of the Libyan pro-government forces stand on a tank in Benghazi, Libya, May 21, 2015. Libya, which has descended into near anarchy since NATO warplanes helped rebels overthrow former president Muammar Gaddafi in a 2011 civil war. REUTERS/Stringer

Rabat, 21 Sya’ban 1436/8 June 2015 (MINA) – The United Nations plans to host on Monday in Morocco a new round of talks among Libya’s warring factions in an effort to end a conflict that threatens to break up the oil producer.

The internationally recognized government has had to operate out of the East of the north African oil state since an armed alliance known as Libya Dawn took over the capital Tripoli and set up its own self-declared government last year.

Western officials say the U.N. talks are the only hope of forming a unity government and halting the fighting among factions allied to either government, Al Arabiya quoted by Mi’raj Islamic News Agency (MINA) as reporting.

Previous rounds have yielded little progress with the two governments and parliaments arguing for months over an agreement to form a unity government, but the U.N. said this round would be “decisive”.

“The mission has received thousands of messages from Libyans gravely concerned about the deteriorating conditions in their country, demanding the swift resumption of the dialogue talks and expressing hope that the Libyan political actors would seize the opportunity,” the U.N. mission for Libya said in a statement.

“The meeting in Skhirat (Morocco) will discuss a new draft of the political agreement based on the latest input of the parties,” the U.N. said on its website. (T/P001/R04)

Mi’raj Islamic News Agency (MINA)