UN Security Council hails intra-Libyan political dialogue

The UN Security Council on Monday welcomed a meeting of the Libyan Political Dialogue, and reiterated its concern about the growing terrorist threat in Libya.

The intra-Libyan political dialogue held on Monday reaffirmed its commitment to uphold the Libyan Political Agreement, a UN-brokered deal signed in December on forming a national unity government, the Security Council said in a press statement.

UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon welcomed the agreement as among the "essential building blocks towards a peaceful, secure and prosperous Libya," but also as "the beginning of a difficult journey" along that path.

The members of the Security Council said that the Political Dialogue valued the declaration signed by a majority of the members of the House of Representatives on Feb. 23 announcing their support for the Government of National Accord, the statement said.

"The members of the Security Council called on the Government of National Accord to finalize interim security arrangements necessary for stabilising Libya, and in the regard called upon Member States to respond urgently to requests from it for assistance," said the statement.

"The members of the Security Council reaffirmed that the Government of National Accord should be based in the capital Tripoli," said the statement.

Meanwhile, "the Security Council reiterated their concern about the growing terrorist threat in Libya, in particular from groups proclaiming allegiance to Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant (ISIL/Da'esh) and groups affiliated with Al Qaeda, and called on the Government of National Accord to urgently focus on combating this threat," it said.

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

More than 2.4 million people require immediate humanitarian assistance, of which 435,000 are estimated to be internally displaced, according to the United Nations.

Libya has been plunged into a political crisis with two rival parliaments and governments battling for legitimacy amid a state of insecurity and anarchy years after the downfall of the late leader Muammar Gaddafi. The North African country is being haunted by escalating violence and growing militant extremism.

The United Nations has sponsored dialogue sessions between Libyan rivals since September 2014, in and outside Libya, in order to end the country's political division. Enditem