(AA) – Warring Libyan factions have been urged by major powers — including Turkey — to back a UN peace deal.
Ambassadors and envoys from countries and groups including the EU, United States, United Kingdom, France, Turkey and Germany issued a statement Sunday from the peace talks venue of Skhirat, Morocco.
Signatories wrote that they “recognize that the Libyan people want peace,” and expressed “deep concern about the expansion of terrorism in Libya and outside its borders”.
“To tackle these issues, we urge all Libyan parties to sign in the coming days the final political agreement presented by the UN,” the statement added.
Earlier in June, the United Nations presented a draft proposal to parties in the Libyan conflict, aiming to stabilize the country.
The plan proposes a truce between parties, the disarmament of warring groups and the creation of a unity government.
Libya has remained in a state of turmoil since a bloody uprising ended the decades-long rule of Muammar Gaddafi in late 2011.
Since then, the country’s stark political divisions have yielded two rival seats of government, each with its own institutions and military capacities.
Vying for legislative authority are the Tobruk-based House of Representatives and General National Congress that convenes in the capital, Tripoli.
The two assemblies support two rival governments, respectively headquartered in the two cities.
Despite clashes on the ground, official representatives of the warring parties have continued with the UN-backed talks.
