Ibrahim Fethi Amish (C) from the internationally recognised House of Representatives speaks during a press conference after signing documents with Awad Mohammed Abdul-Sadiq (L), the first deputy head of the Tripoli-based General National Congress (GNC), on reaching an agreement on ending the political deadlock in Libya following a meeting in the Tunisian town of Gammarth, on the outskirts of Tunis, on December 6, 2015 (Photo: AFP)
Libya's rival parliaments will next week sign a UN-sponsored agreement on forming a national unity government, they announced Friday, as world leaders press them to end chaos in the country.
"The political accord will be signed on December 16," said Salah el-Makhzoum, a vice president of the parliament based in the capital Tripoli, calling this a "happy day".
An official of the internationally recognised parliament, Mohammed Choueib, said that "after lengthy efforts... we announce to our people that we have decided to move beyond this difficult period... and ask everyone to join us".
Libya descended into chaos following the 2011 ouster and killing of long-time dictator Moamer Kadhafi. The oil-rich country has had rival administrations since August 2014, when an Islamist-backed militia alliance overran Tripoli, forcing the recognised government to take refuge in the east.
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