Latest round of Libya peace talks end amid progress signs

Three days of UN backed peace talks between Libya’s rival governments have ended as the warring factions’ delegates return to their home camps for consultation.

“The parties are determined to bridge their differences and have been working on concrete proposals," said a UN statement on the talks held in the Moroccan city of Skhirat, which ended on Saturday.

Even though the latest talks were in their fourth round, it was the first instance that representatives from the rival governments took part in active negotiation and discussed the forming of a national unity government and the recalling of militias from the North African country’s cities and airports.

According to UN envoy Bernardino Leon, the delegations generally met separately with negotiators but on Saturday, the two sides had a symbolic face-to-face meeting.

"Things are positive, constructive. Interventions are in a good spirit. But we will have to continue working," Leon tweeted on Saturday.

"We are currently working on the major questions, the question of security, the question of government," he added.

A UN spokesman, Samir Ghattas, said now that the talks have ended the proposals will be set before the respective governments and the talks will restart by mid-week.

UN attempts to broker an agreement between both sides have been stepped up due to the recent rise of groups allied to Takfiri militants and a steady flow of African migrants travelling to the coast of Europe from Libya’s costs.

The Tripoli-based General National Congress, backed by the Fajr Libya militias controlling the capital, are waging a war against the official Libyan army, supported by the Tobruk-based parliament, in the far east of the country.

The new Tripoli rulers have set up a rival parliament and government not recognized by the international community.

Libya plunged into chaos following the ouster of longtime dictator Muammar Gaddafi which gave rise to a patchwork of heavily-armed militias and deep political divisions.

SRK/NT/AS

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