UN Security Council calls for restoring oil production in Libya

The UN Security Council on Friday called on Libya to restore oil production to bring in revenue to enable the government to provide essential services in the country.

In a press statement issued here, the 15-nation council urged the Libyan Presidency Council to tackle Libya's political, security, humanitarian and economic challenges.

Amid a critical phase of the country's transition, the council also stressed the importance of combating terrorist threats, particularly that posed by the Islamic State (IS).

Libya has been suffering a severe political crisis with two rival parliaments and governments, amid escalating violence and growing militant extremism.

The Presidency Council and the interim Government of the National Accord were formed under a UN-backed peace agreement signed by Libya's rival political parties in December in Morocco.

A few days ago, the UN Support Mission in Libya sponsored a political dialogue in Tunisia to discuss how to solve the most pressing issues in Libya, including the implementation of the peace agreement as well as security and the economy.

However, Libya's High Council of State has criticized the performance of the dialogue team, saying it lacks expertise on military and other matters. Endi