SKHIRAT, Morocco
The UN mission in Libya on Tuesday unveiled a detailed peace proposal – entailing the establishment of several governing assemblies – in hopes of ending the country's ongoing power struggle.
The proposal calls for the formation of a unity government to be led by a president and two deputies "unaffiliated with any party or group, who are acceptable to all parties and to all Libyans," according to a statement issued by the UN Support Mission in Libya (UNSMIL).
It also calls for maintaining Libya's internationally-recognized parliament, which convenes in the eastern city of Tobruk.
The proposal further calls for the formation of a constitution-drafting assembly, a national security council, and a municipalities council.
"After weeks of discussion with all parties and in light of the deteriorating military situation… Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Libya Bernardino Leon visited both Tobruk and Tripoli, where he presented some ideas to expedite the talks," the UNSMIL said in reference to the proposal.
"These ideas are first and foremost Libyan [in origin], formulated after wide discussion with the parties [involved]," the mission said.
"They address the concerns of all sides, while at the same time all the sides are being asked to make concessions," it added.
On Friday, Leon told reporters in Morocco's Skhirat town – where indirect, UN-sponsored talks are currently underway between Libya's warring camps – that he expected the factions taking part in the talks to reach an agreement on a proposed unity government.
A second round of talks in Skhirat kicked off on Friday in hopes of resolving the conflict in the fractious North African country.
Libya has remained in a state of turmoil since a bloody uprising ended the decades-long rule of strongman Muammar Gaddafi in late 2011.
Since then, the country's stark political divisions have yielded two rival seats of government, each with its own institutions and military capacities.
Vying for legislative authority are the Tobruk-based parliament and an Islamist-led parliament that convenes in Tripoli.
The two assemblies support two rival governments respectively headquartered in the two cities.
