UN Libya envoy in Tripoli for government talks

Martin Kobler visited Shahat, a town close to the temporary headquarters of Libya's exiled legislature, and met with senior officials, including parliament head Aguila Saleh, the LANA news agency said. It was expected the agreement would put an end to the civil war in the country.

The UN envoy for Libya arrived Thursday in the east of the restive country in a bid to persuade the internationally recognised administration to join a national unity government, state media reported.

Libya has been in chaos since the 2011 ouster of longtime dictator Moamer Kadhafi and now has two governments and parliaments.

Around 80 of 188 lawmakers from Libya's internationally recognized parliament and 50 of 136 members of the rival Tripoli-based General National Congress signed the deal.

Mr. Kobler said the global community will continue to support efforts towards creating a unity Government, as outlined in a peace deal signed last month.

It calls for a 17-member government, headed by businessman Fayez el-Sarraj as premier, based in Tripoli. Abu Sahmain added that "to establish any political agreement, all parties must be included in any talks".

Firstly, "the Libyan political agreement is the basis of all discussions".

Secondly, "there should be no parallel initiatives".

The process must be "inclusive", and also be guided by the principle of "the peaceful transfer of power from the old institutions to the new institutions", he said. "It must be a Libyan agreement and the Libyans must steer the process".

The United Nations' special delegate to Libya Martin Kobler was "humiliated" by the Tripoli authorities today Saturday, when his press conference was interrupted and told he needed permission to hold it at Tripoli's Mitiga airport.