Libya parliament rejects UN-backed unity government

Tripoli. (NMG) Libya's internationally recognised 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 has struggled to unite the divided North African country and fully assert its authority.

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

Despite the repeatedly delayed vote, the GNA has managed to gather forces who since May 12 have been battling to kick the Islamic State jihadist group out of their coastal stronghold of Sirte east of the capital.

GNA fighters, backed by US air strikes, have recaptured more ground from jihadists holed up in the centre of Sirte in recent days.

The jihadists seized control of the city, which had been the hometown of Libya's slain dictator Moamer Kadhafi, in June 2015.

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