British Foreign Secretary Philip Hammond (L) attends a press conference with Ahmed Maiteeq (R), Libyan deputy prime minister of the Government of National Accord (GNA), and Mohammad al-Ammari (C), a member of the GNA, in Tripoli on April 18, 2016. PHOTO | AFP
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Deputies told AFP a special session of the internationally-recognised parliament, to be held in the eastern city of Tobruk, failed to take place because of “big differences”.
Tripoli. Libya’s parliament postponed a vote of confidence expected to be held Monday on a new UN-backed unity government even as it asserted its authority by assuming control of two ministries.
Deputies told AFP a special session of the internationally-recognised parliament, to be held in the eastern city of Tobruk, failed to take place because of “big differences”.
“We couldn’t hold a session today. There are big differences on what should we vote on first: the confidence or amendment of the constitution,” MP Abu Bakr Beira said.
“The session was postponed till tomorrow, and hopefully it will happen.”
Another MP, Khalifa Daghari, said a committee was formed of supporters and opponents of the unity government to try to reach a deal.
“If we reach it, we will hold a session tomorrow. If we don’t, we will keep trying,” said Daghari. In contrast to the reservations on the domestic front over prime minister-designate Fayez al-Sarraj’s cabinet, British Foreign Secretary Philip Hammond flew into Tripoli on Monday, hot on the heels of visits last week by the foreign ministers of Italy, France and Germany for talks on shoring up the new administration.
The international community sees the Government of National Accord (GNA) as the best hope for oil-rich Libya, which has been roiled by turmoil since the 2011 ouster and killing of Moamer Kadhafi.
Concern has been compounded by the expansion of the Islamic State group in Libya, where the jihadists have set up a bastion just 300 kilometres from Italy across the Mediterranean.
People smugglers are also feeding on the chaos, with a surge of illegal migration to Europe from Libya.
Formed under a power-sharing deal agreed by some Libyan lawmakers in December, the GNA has been working to assert its authority but needs formal endorsement from parliament and support from a rival administration.
UN envoy Martin Kobler was in Tobruk for the vote and had earlier tweeted he was “encouraged” by the presence of “many” of the deputies in the 198-member legislature. The GNA pushed ahead Monday with its efforts to assert its authority by taking over the ministries of housing and public works and social affairs in Tripoli.
They were handed over to state minister Mohammad al-Amari, an official statement said, without elaborating on why the takeover of a third ministry -- youth and sports -- had been delayed.
