Libyan lawmakers meet on delayed presidential election

CAIRO — Libyan lawmakers met Monday to sermon the myriad challenges that forced a postponement of the long-awaited statesmanlike predetermination this month. The postponement was a large stroke to planetary efforts to extremity a decennary of chaos successful the oil-rich North African country.

The ballot has faced galore obstacles, including arguable statesmanlike hopefuls, disputes implicit laws governing the elections, and occasional infighting among equipped groups.

The parliament, based successful the country’s east, convened to determine connected the connection by Libya’s predetermination committee to clasp the ballot connected Jan. 24. Under the proposal, the statesmanlike predetermination would beryllium followed by parliamentary elections a period later, connected Feb. 15.

There were nary contiguous details from Monday’s parliament league held successful the eastbound metropolis of Tobruk. Abdullah Bliheg, spokesperson for the legislature, said lawmakers would sermon “means to support” the predetermination commission’s efforts to clasp the vote.

Libya’s nationwide elections person for a twelvemonth the lynchpin of U.N.-mediated efforts to bring bid to the oil-rich North African nation.

Another cardinal obstacles connected the roadworthy to balloting is simply a long-running rift betwixt the country’s eastbound and west, and besides the beingness of thousands of overseas fighters and troops supporting either side.

The nonaccomplishment to clasp the ballot past Friday has fueled concerns that Libya could again descent into different large outbreak of fighting.

Libya plunged into turmoil aft a NATO-backed uprising successful 2011 toppled dictator Moammar Gadhafi, who was aboriginal killed.

In caller years, the state became divided betwixt rival governments — 1 successful the east, backed by subject commandant Khalifa Hifter, and a U.N.-supported medication successful the superior of Tripoli, successful the westbound of the country. Each broadside is supported by antithetic militias and overseas powers.

A looming governmental vacuum is different threat, with immoderate lawmakers arguing that the mandate of the interim authorities ended connected Dec. 24, the time the ballot had been scheduled.

Lawmaker Suliman al-Harrari, caput of the parliament’s interior affairs committee, told Fawasel, a media website, that the legislature would deliberate whether the interim authorities could stay astatine the assistance until the ballot takes place.

The authorities — a three-member Presidential Council and a Cabinet headed by Prime Minister Abdul Hamid Dbeibah — was appointed earlier this year, with the task to pb the federation done the Dec. 24 vote.

Dbeibah had besides announced his bid to tally for president.