UN aims to convene Libya talks Sept. 29 to ease crisis

TRIPOLI — The UN mission in Libya is hoping to convene a political dialogue next week aimed at resolving months of crisis in the country where rival governments are vying for power.

Oil-rich Libya has been rocked by political instability since a NATO-backed uprising toppled and killed veteran dictator Muammar Qadhafi in 2011.

Three years later, Prime Minister Abdullah Al Thani's government and the internationally recognised parliament elected in June are being challenged by rival, Islamist-backed, administrations.

The country is also being torn apart by fighting between Islamist and nationalist militias.

The UN mission,
UNSMIL, in a statement on Sunday, said it would call on the different parties to meet on September 29 for an "initial round" of talks aimed at ending the strife.

"This dialogue would be based on the legitimacy of the elected institutions, respect for the constitutional declaration, inclusiveness, respect for human rights and international law, and a clear rejection of terrorism," it said.

The Thani government and the parliament elected in June are in virtual domestic exile in the far eastern city of Tobruk.

They moved there in August for security reasons when Islamist-backed militias captured most of the capital, Tripoli, and second city Benghazi in the east.

Since then, the dissolved interim parliament, or General National Congress (GNC), has been reinstated in Tripoli and a rival government named under Omar Al Hassi.

The dialogue is aimed at reaching a “framework agreement on the rules of procedures of the house of representatives” and another on “the critical issues relating to the governance of the country”, UNSMIL said.

It also hoped the meeting would set a date and venue for a ceremony during which the outgoing parliament would hand over power to the internationally recognised legislature.

“Agreement on these points will allow for future discussions on the critical issues of governance and the political transition and full normalisation of institutions and the country,” it added.

In parallel, the United Nations would open “confidence building” talks with the various Libyan parties to help bolster security nationwide, it said.

UNSMIL did not say where the September 29 meeting would be held, but a mission source said it would take place in Libya.