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Libya’s eastern-based government calls for elections to be held in 2018
Libya’s eastern-based parliament has called for elections to be held in early 2018, after it backed out of a United Nations brokered peace deal with rival factions in the capital, Tripoli.
The Tobruk-based House of Representatives sent an open letter to the country’s electoral commission late on Tuesday, asking it to make “all the necessary arrangements to prepare for presidential and parliamentary elections before Feb. 2018,” citing the Libya’s ongoing “difficult situation” and “political struggle.”
The body earlier voted to withdraw its support for the Tripoli-based Government of National Accord, an escalation that prompted concerns that the recent violence could intensify.
The decision comes days after breakaway militias backed by western Libyan factions seized oil terminals from the east’s strongman general, whose forces have vowed to retake them.
The Tobruk body said it pulled out of the peace talks because of the recent occupation of key terminals by militias, and called on all Libyan parties to condemn the “terrorist attacks” by those militias.
Libya has been rid by violence since a 2011 uprising that toppled the rule of long-time leader Muammar Gaddafi.
Following Gaddafi’s death, various factions broke put seeking power in the North African country.