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Libya's UN-backed Prime Minister 'Ready to Step Down' if New Leader Chosen

Edward Yeranian

   CAIRO - As rival'¯Libyan political leaders prepare for a new round of
   talks in Geneva next month, U.N.-backed Tripoli-based Prime Minister
   Fayez al-Sarraj says that he is ready to step down to ensure a
   "peaceful transition of power."'¯

   He says that he will hand over his duties to a new executive authority
   by the end of October, assuming that Libya's dialogue committee has
   completed its task and chosen a new ruling council and a new prime
   minister.

   Libyan negotiators agreed to a number of principles during last week's
   talks in Morocco, including elections in December 2021 and dividing
   positions in the ruling council from among Libya's'¯three geographic
   regions.

   Colonel Ahmed Almasmari, spokesman for eastern military commander
   General Khalifa Haftar, insisted at a press briefing that Haftar and
   those who back him seek a political solution free of outside
   interference.

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