UN Hosts Libya Peace Talks in Geneva

Local Editor

The United Nations will host talks between Libya's warring factions on Wednesday in Geneva, amid warnings that they could be the last chance for peace in the battle-scarred nation.

The talks will be overseen by UN envoy to Libya and the UN chief's special representative Bernardino Leon. A press conference is scheduled on Wednesday afternoon before they start.

Almost four years after a NATO-backed war ended Muammar Gaddafi's one-man rule in 2011, Libya is struggling with instability as two rival administrations compete for power and warring armed factions skirmish for control of territory, especially oil sites, across the North African state.

Vying for legislative authority are the newly-elected House of Representatives, the internationally recognized government headed by Prime Minister Abdullah al-Thani, which convenes in Tobruk, and the Islamist administration, which continues to convene in Tripoli.

Western powers, who backed the military uprising against Muammar Gaddafi in Libya, fear that extremists, who they armed and trained during the uprising, are seeking to exploit a power vacuum in the oil-producing nation.
"This is an opportunity the Libyans cannot afford to miss," the EU's foreign policy chief Federica Mogherini said on the eve of the talks.

"I want to praise both sides participating and encourage all those in Libya that have not yet decided on participation... to do so".

This is the opportunity the Libyans cannot afford to miss," she said.
Thani says his beleaguered government needs the embargo to be lifted to fight the militias.

"The international community must cooperate with Libya to put an end to extremism and terrorism and help government institutions, namely the army, by lifting the arms embargo," Thani said ahead of the talks.

The dialogue in Geneva aims at reaching an agreement on the formation of a unity government and the adoption of a new constitution - a tall order given the current situation.

Source: News Agencies, Edited by website team