Egypt backs peace treaty in Libya: Foreign ministry

Ahram Online , Sunday 12 Jul 2015

Sameh Shoukri
Egypt's Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukri (Photo: Reuters)

Egypt has voiced its support for the peace treaty signed on Saturday by Libyan political parties and members of civil society, Al-Ahram Arabic website reported.

The UN sponsored peace talks last week in Morocco which aimed to form a unity government in order to end a four-year-old civil war.

The Tripoli-based General National Congress (GNC) was absent from the talks and did not sign the treaty.

In a press statement on Sunday, the Egyptian foreign ministry Egypt said it salutes the "positive attitude and sense of responsibility" of those who have agreed to sign the agreement.

The ministry stressed the importance of forming a national unity government in order to aid in a democratic transformation and the construction of a viable socio-economic system. 

The press statement also stressed Egypt's sincere appreciation to Morocco for its role in hosting the UN-Libyan dialogue.  

Following the ouster of long-time dictator Muammar Gaddafi, various Libyan militias have been fighting the central government in a civil war that has ravaged the country.

Anti-government rebels currently operate out of the city of Tripoli in the west while an internationally recognised government sits in Tobrouk in the east.

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