UN envoy resume talks with Libyan warring parties in Morocco

Head of the UN Support Mission to Libya (UNSMIL) Bernardino Leon resumed Monday his talks with Libyan warring parties in the Moroccan city of Skhirat.

General National Congress (GNC) and Libya's internationally recognized House of Representatives (HoR) are expected to endorse the latest draft for the Libyan political agreement, and start negotiating the candidates of the unity government.

Leon stressed at the closing of the last round of talks that he hopes that the final deadline for the signing of the agreement could not go beyond October 20.

A High-Level Meeting on Libya at United Nations Headquarters Friday called on the participants of the Libyan political dialogue to urgently conclude the process without delay, in accordance with the timeframe outlined by UNSMIL, and to endorse and sign the Agreement leading to the formation of a Government of National Accord.

The participants underscored the need for proper security arrangements, including a cease-fire, to create a conducive environment for the implementation of the agreement.

UN-brokered political agreement was initiated in July by the Tubrok-based parliament alongside representatives of political parties, municipalities and civil society groups, whereas the GNC did not join the accord.

The UN Support Mission in Libya has sponsored several political dialogues between the country's political rivals for months in order to end the country's ongoing crisis.

Libya, a major oil producer in North Africa, has been witnessing a frayed political process after former leader Muammar Gaddafi was toppled during the 2011 political turmoil.

The country is now deadlocked in a dogfight between the pro-secular army and Islamist militants, which has led to a security vacuum for homegrown extremism to brew. Endit