UN envoy stresses need for political agreement in Libya despite recent setback

The UN Secretary-General's Special Representative for Libya on Wednesday reiterated the need for a political agreement after Libya rejected a UN proposal for power sharing arrangement, emphasizing the dialogue process will continue.

While addressing a daily news briefing, Farhan Haq, deputy spokesman for the secretary-general, quoted Bernardino Leon, the UN Secretary-General's Special Representative for Libya, as saying that "the process to reach an agreement and form a Government of National Accord will go on despite attempts to derail the process."

The majority of Libyans want a political solution and that such a solution is the only real alternative to the crisis in the country, insisted Leon, who said consultations would continue with both the country's warring factions after the chief of the elected parliament declared the congress had rejected a U.N. proposal to end the crisis.

After months of talks, the United Nations has drafted a deal to form a national unity government, but both sides differ on some parts of the accord, thus stalling the final agreement.

"Mr. Leon reiterated the Secretary-General's call for the Libyan parties to endorse the agreement, adding that the UN will continue to support the Libyan-led process," said Haq.

Libya has been mired in a conflict between its internationally-recognized government and elected parliament on one side, and a self-styled administration holding Tripoli on the other. Endit