TRIPOLI

The High Council of State urged the head of the Presidential Council, Fayez al-Sarraj, to stay on Thursday until a new presidential council is selected in order to avoid a political vacuum and for Libya’s stability.

"His calling came in view of the circumstances the country is going through at this time and the direction of the Libyan Political Dialogue Forum," Libya Al Ahrar TV quoted Chairman of the High Council of State Khalid al-Mishri as saying.

The parliament in Tripoli also called on al-Sarraj to postpone his intention to hand over power at the end October because of "reasons of higher interest."

Al-Sarraj announced in September his "sincere desire" to hand over duties to the next executive authority in a period that will not exceed October.

*Bassel Barakat contributed to this report from Ankara