5+5 group vows to back Libya's unity gov't amid continued political standoff

Foreign ministers of the Western Mediterranean, or 5+5 dialogue, reaffirmed on Friday support to Libya's transition government in a move to help promote stability in the North African state and handle migration crisis that chaos in Libya has triggered.

The 5+5 meeting aims to "strengthen dialogue and security cooperation, at a time regional crises in Syria, Iraq, Libya, the Sahel and the Middle East, of course, are serious concern," the Quai d'Orsay said.

Meeting in the souther French city of Marseille earlier on Friday, the gathering pledged to "... support the process of the government of Fayez El-Sarraj".

"There is a security challenge and also of immigration, particularly because of the odious work of smugglers in the central Mediterranean ... There is more work to do to successfully bring all Libyan forces together," said French Foreign Minister Jean-Marc Ayrault.

Salaheddine Mezouar, the Moroccan foreign minister who co-chaired with his French counterpart the 13th 5+5 talks, noted that military action can not end war in North Africa's main oil exporter.

"We are happy to see that from next week, the transitional body will meet to form the new government," he said.

Since the 2011 oust of former leader Muammar Gaddafi, Libya has been plunged into chaotic violence, putting at risk the security in the Maghreb region.

After four-year-long political vacuum, delegates from Libya's rival factions signed in December 2015 a UN-brokered deal to form a national unity government.

However, standoff remains after failure to form a unity government due to parliamentary vote to block the Government of National Accord (GNA).

The 5+5 group includes countries of northern Mediterranean shore, namely Italy, France, Spain, Portugal and Malta, and five North African states, including Algeria, Morocco, Tunisia, Libya and Mauritania. Endit