Roundup: Libya dialogue ends amid signs that deal within reach

Warring Libyan factions have concluded two days of talks with the intention of reaching a formal agreement in the coming weeks to end the crisis which has been raging since Muammar Gaddafi was overthrown in 2011.

According to a statement released by the United Nations Support Mission in Libya (UNSMIL) on Wednesday, "the talks were held in a positive atmosphere, with the different parties emphasising the need to set aside partisan agendas and uphold Libya's higher national interests."

The Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Libya and Head of UNSMIL Bernardino Leon presided over the talks and informed all parties as to how discussions would take place on the annexes to the Libyan Political Agreement which was reached in the Moroccan town of Skhirat last month.

Both the UN brokered agreement and the formation of the Government of National Accord are seen as critical if any hope of a consensual political settlement is to be reached.

During the closed-door talks which started Tuesday in the United Nations in Geneva, parties expressed their desire to end the dialogue process which will also bring together the different Libyan tracks as soon as possible to instigate the final adoption of the Libyan Political Agreement.

The latter would then be formally endorsed at the beginning of September if all goes to plan.

Libya has been divided between two governments based in Tobruk (the internationally recognised House of Representatives) and Tripoli (the new General National Congress supported by Libya Dawn) since July 2014, while the Islamic State is also vying for power in the conflict-affected country.

The UN has brokered several rounds of dialogues between the conflicting parties since last September in Algeria, Morocco and Switzerland, but clashes have persisted despite a truce struck by the warring factions. Endit