UN Security Council welcomes new round of Libyan political dialogue

The United Nations Security Council Saturday welcomed a new round of Libyan political dialogue held in Geneva, calling all Libyan stakeholders to attend the next round of talks.

The 15-member UN body, in a press statement, commended those who participated in the talks aimed at finding ways to end Libya's political, security and institutional crisis.

"The members of the Security Council supported the resumption of another round of talks in Geneva next week and strongly urged all relevant Libyan stakeholders to attend," said the statement.

After two days of talks hosted by the United Nations Support Mission in Libya (UNSMIL), participants agreed late Thursday on an agenda that includes reaching a political agreement to form a consensual national unity government.

Further talks are expected to involve representatives of Libyan municipalities and armed groups, as well as political, social and tribal personalities.

The Security Council stressed that "there can be no military solution to the crisis in Libya" and called on all parties to cease hostilities to create "a peaceful and conducive environment" for an inclusive dialogue.

Libya has been witnessing a frayed political process after the 2011 turmoil which toppled its leader Muammar Gaddafi. The country is now juggling two rival parliaments and governments.

A UN-brokered national dialogue was held in the southwestern Libyan city of Ghadames in September 2014, during which most parties agreed on a truce, but no ceasefire was actually reached. Endi