Libya’s factions agree to new talks in Geneva next week

TRIPOLI — Libya's factions have agreed to a new round of UN-backed negotiations to attempt to end the conflict destabilising the North African country three years after its civil war ousted Muammar Qadhafi.

The meeting, announced after United Nations envoy Bernardino Leon met with rival parties in Libya, will take place next week at the United Nations office at Geneva, the United Nations mission said in a statement on Saturday.

Since the overthrow of Qadhafi, the major oil producer has slipped deeper into division, with two rival governments and two parliaments, each backed by competing groups of heavily armed former rebel fighters.

"In order to create a conducive environment for the dialogue, Special Representative Leon has proposed to the parties to the conflict a freeze in military operations for a few days," the UN said.

The statement did not make clear who would attend the talks or give an exact date. But it said the meeting would seek to address formation of a unity government, drafting the new constitution and ending of hostilities.

After weeks of fighting in the summer, an armed faction, Libya Dawn, allied to the western city of Misrata, took over Tripoli, driving out fighters from the city of Zintan who had set up in the capital after the fall of Qadhafi.

Libya's internationally recognised government of Prime Minister Abdullah Al Thinni and the elected parliament now operate out of the east. Most governments pulled their diplomats out of Tripoli after the capital fell to Libya Dawn forces.

Each faction claims the mantle of true liberators of Libya, each brands its fighters the real army and each seeks international recognition in a conflict Western powers and African neighbours worry will fracture Libya.