UN envoy confident Libya peace talks are in final stages

Libya has slid into chaos because the 2011 NATO-backed rebellion that ended Moammar Gadhafi’s four-decade reign.

Libya has two rival parliaments and governments, with Tripoli controlled by Libya Dawn forces who seized the capital past year, forcing the internationally recognized government to operate out of Tobruk, in the northeast of the country.

“The talks have come a long way in narrowing the trust deficit that exists among Libyan political stakeholders and in forging an agreement on a roadmap”, Leon told the 15-member council by video link from Paris.

He expressed confidence that concerns by the Islamist government in Tripoli, including on forming a national unity government, can be addressed in ongoing discussions on the annexes to the accord. “The onus is on Libya’s leaders on all sides and at all levels to make that final push towards peace”.

There was no immediate word from the United Nations on whether the Morocco talks would go ahead on Thursday.

United Nations represenative Bernadino Leon warned in the statement that time was running out as the country faces economic and political challenges.

Radical militias pledging allegiance to the extremist Islamic State group control territory in central Libya and are blamed for training militants to attack neighboring Tunisia.

He further warned that about 1.2 million people in Libya have no access to food.

“Many of them [are] facing significant protection issues, including arbitrary arrest and detention in abusive conditions, sexual abuse, forced labour, exploitation and extortion”, he said. The government is under an arm embargo but can request exemptions. “Libya’s main weapon against Islamic State is unity”, Leon said, when asked whether there should be an global intervention to fight the group.