Originally posted by the Voice of America.
Voice of America content is produced by the Voice of America,
a United States federal government-sponsored entity, and is in
the public domain.


Libya Agrees to Transitional Government

Margaret Besheer

   After more than a year, Libyan parties on Friday agreed to a
   transitional government tasked with guiding them to national elections
   at the end of this year.

   "It is absolutely essential to unify Libya and to move onwards on the
   way to peace," U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres told a news
   conference in New York. "The elections of course, being a key element
   of that way to peace."

   At the end of a weeklong in-person meeting of the Libyan Political
   Dialogue Forum at the United Nations in Geneva, a new executive
   authority was elected after two rounds of voting.

   "Our bet was that you would be able to build a truly Libyan-owned
   solution," said Stephanie Williams, the United Nations' acting envoy in
   Libya, who has been the facilitator for the parties.

   She commended the parties for overcoming their many differences and
   divisions and putting the interests of Libya and its people first.

   Williams said the winning ticket received 39 of 73 ballots cast. The
   new executive will be made up of a presidency council and a prime
   minister.

   Three weeks to form cabinet

   Prime Minister-designate Abdul Hamid Mohammed Dbeibah now has 21 days
   to form his cabinet and present its work program to the country's House
   of Representatives for full endorsement.

   The transitional government has a daunting to-do list ahead of it,
   including meeting the December 24, 2021, date for national elections.
   Williams said 77% of Libyans say they want elections to go ahead on
   that date.

.