The UN-brokered peace plan proposing a unity government has hit another unexpected snag, dashing all hopes to restore peace and stability to this North African country.
Advertisement
Of the 104 lawmakers in attendance for the vote in eastern city Tobruk, 89 rejected the new government, he said.
The formation of a government of national unity is a step aimed at stabilizing the country which has witnessed political chaos since the ouster of Muammar Qaddafi in 2011.
A source from the Parliament said the proposed Unity Government which is to be headed by businessman Fayez Al Sarraj consists of 32 ministerial portfolios.
Libya now has two rival administrations and parliaments; the internationally recognised authorities based in Tobruk and a rebel-backed authority holding power in the capital, Tripoli.
He said the council would be dissolved if it failed to meet a 10-day deadline to form a new, smaller cabinet.
The Skhirat agreement was signed on December 17, 2015 in Skhirat, Morocco.
The fear is that powerful army chief Gen. Khalifa Haftar will be removed from his post, a parliament official told AFP Monday.
Haftar launched an offensive against Islamists in eastern Libya in May 2014, prompting the then-government to accuse him of trying to stage a coup.
Commenting on Monday s parliamentary session, United Nations envoy Martin Kobler said in a statement he will pursue “consultations with all parties to find a consensual solution” to the contested article.
Two of the Presidential Council’s nine members also refused to put their names to the proposed government when it was announced after a 48-hour delay last week.
The head and members of the rival Tripoli-based General National Congress also oppose the deal.
Advertisement
They are concerned by the Islamic State extremist group’s expanding territory on Libya’s Mediterranean coast, and by large-scale people-smuggling from Libya to Italy.
