Libya unity govt set for vote as UK�s Hammond visits

AFP, TRIPOLI: Libya’s parliament was set Monday for a crucial confidence vote on a new unity government, as Britain’s Philip Hammond became the latest top diplomat to land in Tripoli in support of the UN-backed administration.
Hammond flew into Tripoli on a surprise trip, hot on the heels of visits last week by the foreign ministers of Italy, France and Germany in support of the unity government.
The international community has been keen to support Libya’s Government of National Accord (GNA) as the best hope for resolving years of chaos, and European Union ministers were Monday to discuss economic and security projects to back it.
The turmoil in oil-rich Libya since the 2011 ouster and killing of Moamer Kadhafi has sparked widespread alarm in the West.
The expansion of the Islamic State group in Libya, where the jihadists have set up a bastion just 300 kilometres (185 miles) away from Italy across the Mediterranean, has been a major cause of concern.
Another has been the increased flow of illegal migrants from Libya into Europe, as people smugglers feed on the country’s chaos.
The GNA, led by prime minister-designate Fayez Sarraj, has been working to assert its authority after landing in Tripoli earlier this month. The unity government, formed under a power-sharing deal agreed by some Libyan lawmakers in December, is to take power from rival administrations that have been vying for control of the country.

 

Libya unity govt set for vote as UK�s Hammond visits

AFP, TRIPOLI: Libyas parliament was set Monday for a crucial confidence vote on a new unity government, as Britains Philip Hammond became the latest top diplomat to land in Tripoli in support of the UN-backed administration. Hammond flew into Tripoli on a surprise trip, hot on the heels of visits last week by the foreign ministers of Italy, France and Germany in support of the unity government. The international community has been keen to support Libyas Government of National Accord (GNA) as the best hope for resolving years of chaos, and European Union ministers were Monday to discuss economic and security projects to back it. The turmoil in oil-rich Libya since the 2011 ouster and killing of Moamer Kadhafi has sparked widespread alarm in the West. The expansion of the Islamic State group in Libya, where the jihadists have set up a bastion just 300 kilometres (185 miles) away from Italy across the Mediterranean, has been a major cause of concern. Another has been the increased flow of illegal migrants from Libya into Europe, as people smugglers feed on the countrys chaos. The GNA, led by prime minister-designate Fayez Sarraj, has been working to assert its authority after landing in Tripoli earlier this month. The unity government, formed under a power-sharing deal agreed by some Libyan lawmakers in December, is to take power from rival administrations that have been vying for control of the country.