Power-sharing deal reached in Libya by rival parliaments

Politicians from Libya’s rival parliaments have reached a power-sharing agreement, shunning a UN-brokered deal aimed at ending the conflict.

Speaking at a press conference in Tunisia, the internationally recognised government’s representative Ibrahim Amash announced they struck a separate deal with the Islamist government to avoid the “foreign intervention” tainting the UN-sponsored agreement.

The UN deal was drafted by its former envoy to Libya, Bernardino Leon, who accepted a job last month from the United Arab Emirates, which backs one side of the conflict, casting doubts on the international body’s neutrality.

Libya slid into chaos following the 2011 toppling and killing of long-time dictator Muammar Gaddafi.

The oil-rich country has been torn between an internationally recognised government in the far east and Islamist-backed government in the capital, Tripoli.

However, it appears the deal has failed to gain broad acceptance by either side, with representatives from both parliaments coming out to criticise the newly minted agreement.

“We believe this is a step on the right track away from intervention of foreign entities and manipulation,” said prominent internationally recognised parliament member Abu Bakr Beira in the eastern city of Tobruk, where his parliament is based.

Meanwhile, his parliament’s spokesman told the Associated Press the new deal does not represent the body.

“This is an individual effort and a childish attempt to get out of signing the real peace deal,” Faraj Abu Hashim said.

If successful, the deal would see the formation of two 10-member committees, with both camps enjoying equal representation.