UN presents draft proposal for Libyan unity government

PanARMENIAN.Net - The UN has presented a draft proposal for a Libyan unity government to warring factions in an attempt to stabilize the conflict-torn country, BBC News reports.

The plan unveiled at talks in Morocco on Monday, June 8, addresses terms of a truce and disarmament of armed groups.

UN special envoy Bernardino Leon urged the Libyans to back the proposal.

Since the overthrow of Muammar Gaddafi in 2011, Libya has descended into chaos and seen jihadist groups fighting for control of the oil-rich nation. Islamic State (IS) militants have recently managed to gain a foothold in Libya's cities of Derna and Sirte.

"Today, the people of Libya have their eyes on this gathering, on you, in the hope that you'll save your country and your people from protracted conflict," Leon told Libya's two rival governments at the talks in Skhirat.

"I am full of hope that this draft represents a fair and reasonable way forward," Leon added.

The UN plan calls for a one-year-long national unity government and says that the parliament elected in 2014 is the only legislative body.

Currently, Libya's internationally recognized parliament is based in the eastern port of Tobruk. Its rival, the Islamist-dominated General National Congress, is nearly 1,000km (620 miles) to the west in the capital, Tripoli.

Representatives of both groups - who have made no public comments on the UN proposal - are expected to reconvene for talks next week.

"What I can say is at the end of this week, we will have a very clear idea on who is for peace who is not, and that will help us to focus our efforts in the future," the U.S. Ambassador to Libya, Deborah Jones, was quoted as saying by Reuters.