Opposing factions inch toward peace talks in Libya

A ceasefire between warring factions in Libya is in place ahead of possible peace talks but it remains to be seen if it will stop the fighting in the country.

According to the BBC, the forces of Libya Dawn, which backs the Tipoli-based General National Council, announced a unilateral ceasefire two days before the "Libyan army" - forces which back the internationally-recognised parliament in Tobruk, announced a ceasefire on Sunday night.

However, the army said it would continue to pursue "terrorists" - which will probably mean fighting will continue in key areas such as the city of Benghazi.

In a statement, the Tripoli government suggested the southern city of Ghat as a location for the talks, and its principles and starting points for negotiation, which include the Supreme Court ruling that the Tobruk parliament is unconstitutional.

The Tripoli government is the former parliament, reconstituted and backed by the forces of Libya Dawn, and opposed to Abdullah al-Thani's Tobruk-based government and the "Libyan army" led by General Khalifa Haftar.

The rival factions have at least agreed peace talks should be held in the country.

The UN Security Council warned against not attending the Geneva talks, and threatened sanctions against anyone who obstructed them.

"Most Libyans refuse to hold the dialogue outside Libya, whether in Geneva or any other place abroad," Tobruk MP Hanan Shalluf said on Sunday. "Tobruk MPs have convened and decided not to attend the talks in Geneva."

The Tripoli administration also expressed reservations about holding the talks in Geneva.

In a statement on Saturday, the UN Security Council warned against not attending the Geneva talks, and threatened sanctions against anyone who obstructed them. Security Council's pre-emptive warning statement about obstructing the Geneva talks appears to have been a clear message to the Tripoli administration, only hours before the voting session, so the parties to the dialogue would be complete.

Before the Security Council resolution, similar warnings were issued by the US, UK and France to members of the Tripoli government, warning them that the Security Council might sanction those who did not wish the dialogue sponsored by the UN mission in Libya to succeed.

A source from inside Tripoli said the new dialogue would include four representatives of the dissolved Tobruk Parliament, four representatives of Tripoli and other parties, with side sessions addressing the humanitarian situation and opening routes for assistance to reach the areas in Benghazi in the east and Kikla in the west cut off by fighting.

The Tripoli statement suggested the city of Ghat, on the Libyan-Algerian borders, as a location for the new round of negotiations, as neither party objected to it. They had previously objected to the city of Jalu, southwest of Benghazi, and the southern city of Ghadames.

This is an edited translation from our Arabic edition.