PARIS (AP) - The Latest on the Libya conference in Paris (all times local):
4:15 p.m.
The U.N. envoy to Libya has praised the “historic meeting” in Paris of rival Libyan leaders, who agreed on a political roadmap leading to elections on Dec. 10.
At a news conference after Tuesday’s talks, Ghassan Salame says “we do not speak in place of the Libyans. It’s the Libyans who agree all together in our presence. This is crucial.”
Salame said he has never seen “such convergence between the Libyan popular will and the international will.”
Some 20 countries and several international organizations attended the conference, which was hosted by French President Emmanuel Macron.
Salame says he will keep working with the parties in the coming weeks on setting a constitutional basis for the parliamentary and presidential elections. He says one option is to organize a constitutional referendum prior to the elections, while another is to pass an electoral law.
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3:30 p.m.
The head of Libya’s U.N.-backed government says there are many challenges ahead but that that rival parties will work together in the coming months to hold parliamentary and presidential elections on Dec. 10.
Fayez Sarraj spoke after talks with his rivals in Paris, in which they issued a joint declaration setting out a political roadmap aimed at unifying and stabilizing the North African country.
Libya slid into chaos after the 2011 uprising that toppled Moammar Gadhafi, and today is ruled by rival authorities in the east and west backed by an array of unruly militias. Sarraj said the military would be brought under civilian rule.
Underscoring the complex task ahead, Sarraj said the parties haven’t agreed on one point in their final declaration, which sets a Sept. 16 deadline for creating a “constitutional basis” for elections.
He says they have not agreed on whether this entails amendments to the country’s current laws or the drafting of a new constitution.
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2:25 p.m.
French President Emmanuel Macron is lauding the agreement struck between rival Libyan leaders at a Paris meeting as a “crucial step” for the war-battered country.
Macron said at a press conference after the gathering concluded in the French capital that this was “the first time these Libyan leaders accepted to work together and approved a joint declaration.”
He said “now we have clear commitments for the country, an approved calendar” for December parliamentary and presidential elections.
He said the presence of 20 countries and international conference in Paris shows “the support of the international community” toward the efforts of the Libyan leaders.
Macron said the “Libyan people aspire to stability, security” and a better life.
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2:05 p.m.
Libya’s rival leaders have agreed on a joint declaration stating they are committed to organizing credible and peaceful elections in December and respecting the results.
The eight-point joint declaration at the end of a Paris summit on Tuesday in Paris says: “Libyan leaders commit to accept the results of elections, and ensure appropriate funds and strong security arrangements are in place. Those who violate or obstruct the electoral process will be held accountable.”
The document was approved by four leading Libyan officials who symbolize the divisions in the North African country, and read at the Elysee palace in the presence of the representatives of some 20 countries and the U.N. special envoy for Libya.
The declaration says “any obstruction or interference with the voting process will not be tolerated, and those responsible will be held accountable.” It says security forces will be “responsible for safeguarding the electoral process.”
Libyan leaders commit to work on “phasing out parallel government” and on “the unifying of the Libyan Central Bank and other institutions.”
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1:10 p.m.
An adviser of the head of Libya’s U.N.-recognized government based in Tripoli has tweeted that the country’s rival leaders have reached consensus at a Paris meeting to hold both parliamentary and presidential elections in battered Libya on Dec. 10.
Taher El-Sonni, a senior political adviser to Prime Minister Fayez Sarraj, tweeted about the agreed-on date ahead of the closing of the brief conference in Paris on Tuesday.
He also says the two sides would finalize a “constitutional base” by Sept. 16. The Paris gathering brought together Libyan rivals and representatives of the international community under U.N. auspices.
Besides Sarraj, whose government dominates western Libya, the conference was attended by Gen. Khalifa Hifter, the commander of Libya’s national army which controls the east of the country.
A declaration signed by all four was expected to follow shortly.
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10:10 a.m.
Libya’s rival leaders are meeting in Paris to agree on a political roadmap, including nationwide elections, in an effort to bring order to Libya’s chaos.
Representatives of 20 countries, including Libya’s neighbors, regional and Western powers, and international organizations also were in attendance at the Elysee Palace on Tuesday.
The U.N.-backed conference aims at securing parliamentary and presidential elections in the North African country, if possible by the end of 2018.
French President Emmanuel Macron’s office said Libyan leaders have agreed in principle to a non-binding accord.
Libya is split between rival governments in the east and west, each backed by an array of militias.
Participants include Prime Minister Fayez al-Sarraj, head of Libya’s UN-recognized government in Tripoli in the west, and Gen. Khalifa Hifter, the commander of Libya’s national army which dominates the east.
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