Libya Parliament Rejects UN-Backed Unity Government

Local Editor

Libya's internationally recognized parliament on Monday voted no confidence in a UN-backed unity government, a spokesman said, in a blow to efforts to end the country's political chaos.

"The majority of lawmakers present at the parliament session [on Monday] voted no confidence in the government," said Adam Boussakhra, a spokesman for the legislature based in the country's Far East.

Parliament speaker Aguila Saleh as well as 101 lawmakers attended Monday's vote, the House of Representatives said on its website.

Sixty-one parliamentarians rejected the Tripoli-based Government of National Accord [GNA] headed by prime minister-designate Fayez al-Sarraj, it said.

A single parliamentarian voted confidence in the GNA, while 39 abstained from voting, it added.

The GNA last month moved into its official Tripoli offices, more than 100 days after starting to work from a naval base in the capital.

The unity government was the result of a UN-brokered power-sharing deal struck in December, but had struggled to unite the divided North African country and fully assert its authority.

A rival government in the eastern city of Tobruk refused to cede power until the House of Representatives passes a vote of confidence.

Despite the repeatedly delayed vote, the GNA managed to gather forces who since May 12 have been battling to kick the Daesh [Arabic acronym for "ISIS" / "ISIL"] Takfiri group out of their coastal stronghold of Sirte east of the capital.

GNA fighters, backed by US air strikes, had recaptured more ground from Takfiri holed up in the center of Sirte in recent days.

The Takfiris seized control of the city, which had been the hometown of Libya's slain strongman Moammar Gadhafi, in June 2015.

Libya descended into chaos after the 2011 revolution that toppled and killed Gadhafi, with rival authorities vying for control of the oil-rich country.

Source: News Agencies, Edited by website team