U.N. envoy urges rapid Libya handover as fragile peace holds

Source: Reuters

The U.N. envoy to Libya has urged a rapid, complete handover of power to a unity government that arrived in Tripoli a week ago, warning that a fragile peace in the city may not hold if the new government is unable to deliver.

Martin Kobler also called on Libya's internationally recognised eastern parliament on Wednesday to hold a long-sought vote on whether to approve the U.N.-backed Government of National Accord (GNA), telling Reuters in an interview that the chamber risked being sidelined if it failed to do so.

Shortly after he spoke a statement appeared on the website of Tripoli's self-declared National Salvation government, carrying the name of its prime minister and calling on ministers to stay in place. That appeared to contradict a statement on a ministry website on Tuesday saying the National Salvation government was stepping down.

The GNA emerged from a U.N.-mediated deal signed in December and aimed at resolving the political chaos that engulfed Libya after the 2011 overthrow of autocrat Muammar Gaddafi.


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