UN mission convenes new round of talks in Libya
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E-mail Xinhua, February 12, 2015
The UN Support Mission in Libya (UNSMIL) facilitated a new round of political dialogue in the Libyan town of Ghadames Wednesday, UN spokesman Stephane Dujarric told reporters here.
Bernardino Leon, the secretary-general's special representative for Libya, held separate meetings with the delegations, focusing on the next steps needed to reach a political solution to prevent a further security and political deterioration in the north African country, Dujarric said at a daily news briefing.
UNSMIL reported that for the first time, all invited participants attended the talks, in what it called constructive and positive atmosphere, said Dujarric. "The participants called on all parties to work towards military de-escalation to allow the dialogue to proceed in a positive environment."
The previous two rounds of the UN-mediated Libya talks were hosted by the UN Office at Geneva.
"Discussions focused on the points that were agreed upon in the agenda of the dialogue, including proposals for organizing the work ahead and agreement on a clear timetable that takes into consideration the wishes of the parties to reach a speedy political solution to prevent further security and political deterioration and end the institutional division that threatens the country's unity," UNSMIL said, adding that participants had agreed to continue the dialogue in the coming days.
The protracted conflict in Libya has caused a humanitarian crisis with at least 120,000 people forced to flee their homes, resulting in consequent shortages in both food and medical supplies along with mounting numbers of casualties.
A recent burst of violence has further rattled the war-weary country, in conflict since the beginning of its civil war in 2011, which resulted in the ouster of late Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi.
In the eastern city of Benghazi, a rise in violence has seen 450 people killed since October 2014 as residents continue to face shortages in medical care. Moreover, at least 15,000 families -- some 90,000 people -- have been displaced.
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