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Inter-Libyan dialogue in Algeria aims unity gov't

Xinhua, March 10, 2015 Adjust font size:

The UN-sponsored dialogue bringing together Libyan party and political activists kicked off in the Algerian capital Algiers on Tuesday, in an attempt to put an end to the four-year civil war in Libya.

The meeting, sponsored by the UN Support Mission in Libya, aims to involve different Libyan political parties in a consensual solution to form a national unity government for Libya's transitional period.

In his opening address, UN special envoy for Libya Bernardino Leon said the dialogue is of "paramount importance," as all participants are seeking to build a democratic Libya that is free from terrorism.

But Bernardino also said that the UN only plays a facilitating role to boost dialogue and the peace talks have no particular time agenda.

Tuesday's dialogue was preceded by secret talks last week in Algiers between Libyan antagonists, with the exception of those UN-ranked terrorist groups. The meeting may conclude with forming a national unity government in Libya.

Algeria, which shares common borders and history with Libya, has made huge efforts in helping the neighbor to the east find a solution to the years-long crisis, according to Abdelkader Messahel, Algerian delegate minister for Maghreb and African affairs, who chaired the dialogue.

Libya has been witnessing frayed political process since the 2011 turmoil which toppled its former leader Muammar Gaddafi. The country is now juggling with two rival parliaments, the internationally recognized House of Representatives and the Islamist-backed General National Congress.

Forces loyal to the two major factions have been warring with each other in cities like Tripoli, Benghazi and Gharyan, causing a humanitarian crisis with at least 120,000 people forced to leave their homes, as well as consequent shortages of food and medical supplies along with mounting casualties.

The UN has held several rounds of dialogue between the conflicting parties since September 2014, but clashes continued despite an agreed truce. Endit