Libya unity govt. to start taking control of ministries: deputy PM

PanARMENIAN.Net - The United Nations said its staff had returned to Tripoli and Libya's unity government vowed further steps to assert its authority Sunday, April 17, on the eve of a crucial confidence vote, AFP reports.

UN envoy Martin Kobler said his staff were back after leaving amid violence in mid-2014, three years after Libya descended into chaos following the NATO-backed uprising that killed dictator Moamer Kadhafi.

Their arrival comes a day before the recognized parliament votes on the UN-backed Government of National Accord (GNA), supported by the international community in a bid to end years of chaos in the North African nation.

"The UN staff will be in Tripoli five days a week... I am not visiting Tripoli any more, I am working out of Tripoli," Kobler said at a joint news conference with Ahmed Maiteeq, deputy head of a UN-backed unity government, AFP says.

Maiteeq, meanwhile, said the GNA would take control of three ministries from Monday, in the latest step to assert its authority over the conflict-torn country.

"More than six ministries are ready, of which three will be handed over administratively tomorrow," he said, according to AFP.

The deputy premier said the GNA would begin running the ministries of social affairs, youth and sports, and housing and public works from Monday, regardless of the results of the vote of confidence.

"The legislative authorities must quickly give the GNA its legitimacy through the House of Representatives in order for it to serve the Libyan people," Maiteeq said.

Libya has had two rival administrations since mid-2014 when a militia alliance took over Tripoli, setting up its own authority and forcing the recognised parliament to flee to the remote east, where it is based in Tobruk.

Sarraj's government was formed under a UN-backed power-sharing deal agreed in December and supportedby some lawmakers from both sides.

The unity cabinet has been steadily winning support from local officials and state institutions, though the head of the Tripoli-based administration, Khalifa Ghweil, has refused to recognise its authority.