Talks on new Libyan government end without discussing candidates

Consultations resume in a week to decide on criteria for senior positions, UN envoy says

UN acting envoy to Libya Stephanie Williams speaks during a press conference in Tunis, Tunisia on 15 November 2020. EPA

UN-led talks to form a Libyan transitional government ended on Sunday without candidates being discussed.

The talks will resume next week to decide on a selection mechanism, said Stephanie Williams, the UN's interim Libya envoy.

The week-long discussions in neighbouring Tunisia were he latest stage in renewed efforts for peace in the North African country, bringing together 75 delegates selected by the UN to represent a broad range of constituencies.

They were expected to lay out a road map towards elections, setting the mandate of an interim executive and naming its members.

"We have agreed to reconvene in about a week in a virtual meeting to agree on the selection mechanism for the coming authority," Ms Williams said after the talks concluded.

But no names were discussed during the meetings, she said.

Ms Williams indicated that the participants would now return to their constituencies for consultations on what had been discussed so far.

The coming sessions will decide on the qualifications required for senior government positions and a number of other issues, she said.

Ms Williams said a legal committee would be formed to lay down the process for elections that the parties agreed to hold on December 24 next year, with their work to be completed in 60 days.

She said Libya needed a strong and united government to pull it out of the current crisis and warned against attempts to disrupt political talks.