News / North Africa

Tobruk parliament unlikely to approve Libya unity government, says lawmaker

Wednesday, 20 January 2016 1:48 PM [ Last Update: Wednesday, 20 January 2016 2:17 PM ]

Women place a shoe on a placard bearing a portrait of UN Special Envoy for Libya Martin Kobler during a demonstration against a UN-sponsored agreement on forming a national unity government in the capital, Tripoli, January 8, 2016. (AFP photo)

The internationally-recognized parliament of Libya is unlikely to approve the unity government whose formation was brokered by the United Nations, says a Libyan lawmaker.

Abu Bakr Beira said on Wednesday that Libya’s House of Representatives will not give in to international pressure to approve the unity government and a peace deal with the militants controlling the capital, Tripoli.

Beira said the idea of the unity government was “nonsense.” He also said the peace deal between the internationally-recognized government and the militants of Libya Dawn “has no support in the east in the first place.”

The UN announced a 32-member cabinet on Tuesday to end the deadly conflict between the two governments in Libya.

UN officials said supporters of the peace deal and the proposed government would have 10 days to get the endorsement from the parliament in Tobruk.

UN Special Envoy for Libya Martin Kobler has urged the eastern parliament to “uphold the country's national interest above all other considerations and promptly convene to discuss and endorse the proposed cabinet.”

In 2011, Libya’s longtime dictator Muammar Gaddafi was deposed and later killed. Since then, the two rival governments have been engaged in fighting for power. The rivals, particularly the parliament in Tobruk, have repeatedly opposed initiatives by the UN to end the conflict.

The crisis in Libya has forced tens of thousands of people from homes daring the risky journeys across the Mediterranean in an attempt to seek asylum in the European countries.

Libya’s internationally recognized government is based in Tobruk while the militants control Tripoli. The Takfiri group Daesh has also overran areas in the war-torn country.

Press TV’s website can also be accessed at the following alternate addresses:

www.presstv.co.uk