Libya Unity Gov’t Set for Key Vote as Britain’s Hammond Visits

Local Editor

Libya's parliament was set Monday for a crucial confidence vote on a new unity government, as Britain's Philip Hammond became the latest top diplomat to land in Tripoli in support of the UN-backed administration.

Hammond flew into Tripoli on a surprise trip, hot on the heels of visits last week by the foreign ministers of Italy, France and Germany in support of the unity government.

The international community has been keen to support Libya's Government of National Accord [GNA] as the best hope for resolving years of chaos, and European Union ministers were Monday to discuss economic and security projects to back it.

The turmoil in oil-rich Libya since the 2011 ouster and killing of Moammar Gadhafi has sparked widespread alarm in the West.

The expansion of Daesh terrorists in Libya has been a major cause of concern.

Another has been the increased flow of illegal migrants from Libya into Europe, as people smugglers feed on the country's chaos.

The GNA, led by prime minister-designate Fayez Sarraj, has been working to assert its authority after landing in Tripoli earlier this month.

The unity government, formed under a power-sharing deal agreed by some Libyan lawmakers in December, is to take power from rival administrations that have been vying for control of the country.

Libya's internationally recognized parliament, based in the eastern city of Tobruk, was to hold a confidence vote in the government later on Monday -- a crucial step in cementing its authority.

The UN's Libya envoy Martin Kobler was in Tobruk for the vote and said in a tweet he was "encouraged" by the presence of "many" deputies.

Ahead of the vote, officials said Hammond had arrived for talks with Sarraj and would later hold a news conference.

Kobler hailed Hammond's visit as a sign of the international community's "unwavering support" for Libya's stability and unity.

The GNA was expected to further assert its authority in the war-torn North African nation by taking control of three ministries later Monday.

Deputy premier Ahmed Maiteeq has said the government would begin running the ministries of social affairs, youth and sports, and housing and public works, regardless of the results of the confidence vote.

At Monday's session, which is to be broadcast live, deputies are also expected to vote on an amended constitution.

EU foreign policy chief Federica Mogherini said that European foreign and defense ministers meeting in Luxembourg will hold talks via video link with Sarraj Monday on how best to shore up his government.

They will work "to identify concrete projects in different fields that are the priorities of the Libyan people and of the Libyan government... on the economic and political and security side," she said.

French Foreign Minister Jean-Marc Ayrault, who visited Libya on Saturday with German counterpart Frank-Walter Steinmeier, told reporters in Luxembourg that Libyan and international support was "indispensable" to restore stability.

He said the EU ministers would discuss steps to stop migrant smuggling and arms trafficking.

Source: News Agencies, Edited by website team