Libya's rival parliament reach tentative agreement Sunday Dec 06,2015

 

Libya's two rival parliaments have reached an initial agreement aimed at resolving the political crisis that has plagued the country for years.

 

The deal, agreed at talks in Tunis, is intended to lead to a single government and elections within two years.

It needs to be endorsed by both the internationally recognised parliament in eastern Libya and the Tripoli-based General National Congress (GNC).

The agreement is separate from UN efforts at mediation in Libya.

The United Nations special envoy to Libya, Martin Kobler, called it a very good basis for going forward.

In October, the UN submitted its own blueprint for a deal leading to a unified government, but neither side has endorsed it.

The UN is due to host peace talks between the two factions next week in Rome.

Libya has been unstable since long-serving strongman Muammar Gaddafi was toppled in October 2011, with militias ruling various parts of the country.