UN Security Council urges accord on Libyan national unity gov't

The UN Security Council on Monday urged all the Libyan parties to reach an agreement on the formation of a national unity government to end the political, security and institutional crisis in the country.

The 15-nation council made the appeal as Libyan political leaders meet in Algeria to seek a political solution.

"The members of the Security Council strongly urged all Libyan stakeholders participating in the talks to agree on arrangements on the formation of a national unity government to end Libya's political, security and institutional crisis," said the council in a press statement.

"Expressing deep concern about the continuing violence in Libya, the members of the Security Council reaffirmed 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," the statement said.

The Libya meeting was opened Monday by the special representative of the UN secretary-general for Libya and head of the UN Mission in Libya, Bernardino Leon, who also facilitated the peace talks.

"We are here today to send a strong message that no more Libyans should be killed," Leon said in his opening talks to the meeting. "No more Libyans should lose their lives."

"There must be a possibility for all Libyans to live together," he said.

The meeting is a follow-up to an earlier one that took place in March during which participants expressed strong support for dialogue as the way to resolve Libya's crisis peacefully.

Past sessions have brought together representatives of Libyan municipalities and local councils in Geneva in January and in Brussels last month. The talks are aimed at including wide segments of Libyan society in the peace process.

Addressing those gathered at the Monday meeting, Leon admitted that while reaching an agreement would prove to be "very challenging" and require "generosity and determination" on behalf of the participants, full acceptance of divergent views remained the essence of democracy and the key to Libya's future.

A meeting that brings together tribal personalities will convene at a later date in Morocco. The UN Mission in the country is also reaching out to military, security and armed groups leaders.

The council members "look forward to the planned next round of talks in the Libyan dialogue in Morocco on April 15," the Security Council statement said.

The council members recalled Resolution 2213 (2015) and threatened sanctions for those who threaten Libya's peace, stability or security or those who obstruct or undermine the successful completion of its political transition, the statement said.

"The members of the Security Council reaffirmed their strong commitment to the sovereignty, independence, territorial integrity and national unity of Libya," the statement added.

The security conditions in the North Africa country have been plagued by assassinations, kidnappings and armed robberies since the removal of the former strongman Muammar Gaddafi in 2011.

Libya's Islamist group Ansar al-Sharia, which has been warring with the Libyan army since May, said earlier that it had set up an offshoot in Beida attempting to confront the government forces. Endi