Regional FMs commit to sending delegation in run up to Libya vote

Countries surrounding Libya on Tuesday said they would send representatives to examine the political circumstances there in the run up to the nation's long-awaited December vote.

The announcement came towards the close of a gathering of the Libyan, Algerian, Egyptian, Tunisian, Nigerian and other foreign affairs ministers, Anadolu Agency reported on Wednesday.

Other officials present at the event, held over two days in Algeria, included Jan Kubis, the UN secretary-general's Libya envoy, and Ahmed Aboul Gheit, the secretary-general of the Arab League.

Those present committed to work together to address the rocky state of politics in Libya, a joint release explained.

Libya is struggling to arrange its upcoming elections amid a hold-up in approving the necessary legislation for the vote, which is set for 24 December.

Najla Mangoush, Tripoli's foreign minister, would not confirm on Tuesday that the poll will definitely go ahead on time.

"I cannot answer whether the elections will be postponed or not, but we are trying to ensure they will be held on the scheduled date," Mangoush told reporters.

There was no timeline given for the ministers' Libya trip.

Libya's interim prime minister on Friday pushed back against parliament's threats to withdraw confidence from his unity government, saying in a speech its failure to approve his budget had set back the work of statehttps://t.co/yGIwzRGC9f

— The New Arab (@The_NewArab) August 28, 2021

The release highlighted the importance of pulling all overseas combatants out of Libya and urged that a deal between Chad, Niger, Sudan and Libya be brought into use.

Another gathering for the states surrounding Libya is to take place in Cairo.