UN-brokered talks to end the civil war in Libya were set to start Wednesday in Geneva even though one of the main Islamist power groups was staying away from the negotiations, UN officials said.
The oil-rich country currently has two rival governments and parliaments: a moderate leadership that is internationally recognized is based in the eastern city of Tobruk, while Islamists have set up parallel structures in the capital Tripoli.
None of the invited Islamist representatives of the General National Congress parliament in Tripoli would attend, according to Samir Ghattas, spokesman for the UN Support Mission in Libya (UNSMIL).
However, he said a representative from the Islamist stronghold of Misrata, which also boycotts the Tobruk government, would attend.
“So both camps are represented although the General National Congress faction is not coming for now,” Ghattas told dpa.
“A process like this cannot satisfy everyone in everything. But what is important is that the Libyans seize this opportunity and take the necessary risks for peace by joining these talks, for they will be certain to achieve more by participating rather than by staying away,” UNSMIL said in a statement.
General National Congress deputy president Saleh al-Makhzoum said Sunday that his side objected to some of the Tripoli representatives on the participants list, and to negotiating while fighting was continuing.
The Geneva talks are led by UNSMIL chief Bernardino Leon.
His office said the aim was to break the political deadlock, agree on security arrangements for stopping the intense violence and withdrawing armed groups from all major towns and cities.
GNA
