Libyan civil war: UN envoy says rival governments reach 'consensus'

Move increases the likelihood of an agreement to form a unity government

UN special envoy for Libya, Bernardino Leon, speaks at a press conference during a new round of peace talks on the Libyan conflict (AFP/Getty)

Libya's rival governments have reached a “consensus” on the main elements of a political agreement, a UN special envoy told reporters.

Bernardino Leon said in Skhirat, Morocco that the two sides were able to "overcome their differences" on major outstanding issues, increasing the likelihood of signing a long-awaited agreement to form a unity government this month.

He called it the first time "that we have the possibility to make it a nd to have this agreement with the all the parties, all the key parties in Libya onboard," adding that both sides have made compromises.

"We know that it is going to require a lot of work, but we believe that it will be possible to reach this deadline of the 20th of September with an agreement that will be signed," said Leon.

The most recent text of the draft agreement was not immediately available.

Since the 2011 overthrow and killing of longtime dictator Moammar Gadhafi, Libya has slid into chaos. The country is divided between an Islamist-backed government in Tripoli and the internationally recognized government in Tobruk.

Leon has been trying to get the parties to present candidates for prime minister and two deputies to lead a national unity government to bring the war-torn country out of its crisis.

He said the Tripoli government has been given 48 hours to submit names for leadership positions in a unity government, adding that the Tobruk-based government has already provided names.

AP