Libyan political figures call for ‘immediate’ ceasefire

Envoys of six parties and five activists said their declaration, which came at the end of two days of talks, aimed to send a clear message that dialogue – not violence – is the only way forward.

ALGIERS // Libyan political figures called for an “immediate halt” to military operations at the end of a UN-backed meeting in the Algerian capital on Wednesday.

Envoys of six parties and five activists said their Algiers declaration, after two days of talks, aimed to send “a strong, clear and united message on their commitment to consider dialogue as the only way forward and to reject violence”.

They called for “an immediate halt to military operations to allow dialogue to continue”.

The two-page declaration commits the signatories to respect the national unity and territorial integrity of Libya.

UN envoy Bernardino Leon, who attended the talks, told a news conference that the meeting was “an important step” towards peace.

Opposing militias in Libya – awash with weapons since its 2011 revolution that toppled longtime leader Muammar Qaddafi – are battling for control of its cities and oil wealth.

Libya has rival governments and parliaments, those recognised by the international community sitting in the far east of the country, while the others reside in the capital Tripoli.

“There are two options: a political accord or destruction,” Mr Leon warned on Tuesday. “Destruction is not an option.”

Over the weekend in Morocco, Mr Leon brokered the first direct talks between Libya’s rival parliaments, and their envoys are due to hold another round in the capital Rabat on Thursday.

But the internationally recognised parliament has asked for a delay of “one week to 10 days”, its speaker Faraj Bouhachem said on Wednesday.

* Agence France-Presse